Week two

That Monday, my day off, I did my laundry in an official laundry mat for the first time! Well, that was kind of a fib, but NYU has it’s own private laundry mat downstairs and that seemed official enough for me! You see most people who do their laundry in a mat just leave it, but clearly I am not like most people when it comes to my clothing. I couldn’t just leave all my precious outfits in that boiler room- all alone! What if they got scared??? Or worse what if someone took them! Uh just the thought made my stomach turn so I sat in this hellishly hot room for two hours while I cleaned my clothes. Now that is tough love!

Anyway, that night I was invited to a Mets game—or so I thought! It was quite a funny story looking back, but a friend of mine I met at the Yankees game, Vinny, had season tickets to the Mets games. As you all know I am not really a huge fan of baseball football yes), but not baseball. However, I felt I shouldn’t turn down the offer! Especially because, like the Yankees, this was the last season the Mets were going to play in their current stadium. Well, Vinny and I ventured all the way to Queens, which was like a 30-minute subway only to find a near deserted Mets stadium. At the time, we figured the game let out early but later we figured out that the game was on Wednesday not Monday! Damn. Well, luckily I got a picture outside the stadium so it wasn’t a complete waste! I went home after that because I felt like I was getting a little sick. I still haven’t adapted to the icky pollution and garbage.

Anyway, my second week at Rabbit was great. I was starting to feel much more comfortable with the people and more apart of the team-or family as Douglas would say. For the majority of the week I worked on constructing our director’s biographies in an aesthetically styled PDF document. In other words, I was making glorified word documents, but I was able to be a little creative.

I liked the way Katie presented me with the project. She gave me all the recent work our talented directors had made and then just said, “Make it look good”!  Sometimes when I am trusted and given the freedom to create I produce the best products. Needless to say, this was a pretty big project so I wanted to do it right. And speaking from the future looking back…I think Katie was really impressed!  Props to my new Mac laptop and all its sweet software! Ha that makes me remember the dweeb who sold me my computer at the apple store in Jacksonville. My family will remember how badly I wanted to bitch slap this little man—and thankfully I didn’t listen to him. He kept trying to sell me some crap version of Microsoft word that I wouldn’t have been able to do the Biographies half as well with.

On Wednesday night I had my spinning class that I take on Mondays and Wednesdays. My teacher is a loony bin and definitely does some awkward--perhaps dangerous cycling moves, but it is nice to be on the bike again.  I find it depressing that it’s extremely hard to lose weight but it is surprisingly simple to gain.  I have definitely struggled with finding energy and time to work out. I think this struggle is going to make me a better teacher. I will be more compassionate and empathic with my students. Being a student, I understand that my part as a motivator is very important.  After spinning I met a friend at the dorms name Lucy. Lucy and I grabbed a few beers at a place one block up called Reservoirs. We had fun and it was nice to chill with a girl but I was still feeling sick and my throat was now killing me.

At Rabbit on Thursday we celebrated Katie’s birthday a bit early with Champagne and a ice cream cake! It was really fun and interesting to see all the diverse people I work with in one area. I love any office that serves champagne at 4:00pm on a Thursday. Cheers to Katie!

Well, it seems to be a day for birthdays because Thursday night was an absolute shit show. We were celebrating my roommate Laura’s 21^st and oh how I love 21^st birthdays!  We did it right too! All of Laura’s girl friends from Jersey came in town to Pre-drink before going to the bar. We partied hard in the east village all night & Laura got smashed! I will not disclose any more information on the status we were all in, but lets just say I had to call in reinforcements…my family and closest friends were on wake up call duty so that I wouldn’t miss work!

So Friday was my day to shine at work because Danielle and Katie were both out of the office. And what an awful day to have to shine! I had to be there early at 9:00 a.m. to fill in Danielle’s position.

Slightly drunk from the night before I staggered into the office with a sore throat sent from hell. Luckily, Keith was feeling a bit under the weather (so to speak) and we rallied together to push though our icky morning hangovers.  By mid-morning I had the phone system down with only a few minor screw-ups. It was fun working in Danielle’s spot because she gets to see and hear everything that is going on, but it was also exhausting! Perhaps I was so beat down because I had only three hours of sleep the night before?? NAhh Well, whatever the reason might had been I finished the day and literally dragged myself down the streets of New York to my steamy dorm. I plopped down on my bed and slept—for 13 hours! Literally I was comatose! 

A picture can tell a thousand words

I love the pictures I took over my first full weekend in the city and what a great weekend to call my first…the 4^th of July weekend!

I started my Friday (the 4^th) with a much-needed pedicure and manicure at a local spa…I still wonder if I should call it a “Spa”--that sounds so prestigious. We all know I went to the cheep Chinese ladies who talk shit about you in some odd noise they call a language…and I am sorry if that sounds rude, but the Chinese language might be the most unpleasant sounding language.  It almost burns the ears.

After my primping, I went for a run in central park. This lead to be a most difficult run for me…I have been running for over a year now so a forty-five minute run isn’t too difficult. However, I am not sure if the air is thicker, if it was the small inclines, or the smell of horse poop from the horse-n-buggies, but this run was quite challenging for me.

Following my half-ass run, I grabbed a train back to my place to get ready for the night’s festivities. Dressed to “T” as I always aspire to do, I met up with Eva and her co-workers from Tavern on the Green for a tasty Bar-B-Q. Equipped with girl-talk galore, I found myself feeling a bit different from these girls…or better yet women…excluding Eva, of course!

Maybe it is just my young age that has kept me from being indigent and bitter or maybe I haven’t lived in the “NYC dating scene” long enough. However, the tableside girl talk started off innocent, but ended in an attack on all mankind! I am not supporting men here, but I feel if something goes wrong in a relationship the blame is on both parties…it takes two to tango, right? Even if someone cheats (not that it’s right), there must be an underlining reason for them doing so.

Anyways, after the Bar-B-Q I took a train downtown to Brooklyn, for Macy’s firework show with Roy, a fellow Fry Hammond Barr ex-intern. Roy works and Y & R Advertising. I met all his friends and partied hard the rest of the night! Happy Independence Day, for sure.

The next day, Roy took me to a few cool spots. “Hey, anything to help out a fellow Orlandoian”, he said. We went to a really cool brunch place in Brooklyn with killer Bloody Mary’s and then the MOMA- Museum of Modern Art.

At the MOMA, I saw some really great art that I had studied in school. It was amazing to see Pollock, Picasso, Matisse, Andy Warhol, and Van Gogh’s art up close.  The pictures are below…

After the MOMA, Roy and I traveled to New York City’s oldest bar! Picture this…mid-Saturday afternoon when only alcoholics, bums, and Floridians are heavily drinking…down 7^th avenue… I can hear the beer mugs clinking and smell stale beer one block away. We arrived at McSorley’s Old Ale House. It was packed full of people. Roy and I managed to squeeze a spot at the bar, due solely to the fact that we are both quite quaint in size! The Irish bar tender yells our way “dark or light”? Those are the only choices…no vodka & cranberry, or champagne just dark or light…beer! We voice our preference and he slides four mugs our way and yells 9 bucks! That might have been the best deal in NYC…double fisting for only $4.50 a person!

At McSorley’s Roy and I met a couple from Orlando and a group of rowdy guys with English accents! One English man in particular Chris Carrason, kinda stuck with me. We all ended up going bar hoping later that evening. Needless to say, it was great!

Chris is from England, but now lives in LA. He has proven to be a good friend to have because he lived in the city one road up from me just a few years ago. Chris and I hung out all day Sunday. We went to a cool brunch place, a little wine spot, a movie and then dinner in little Italy.

Overall, my first weekend was everything I expected from New York City! Cheers…as they say in England!

4th of July weekend

4th of July weekend

4th of July weekend

4th of July weekend

I am a New Yorker!

Though that statement is quite false in reference to me. It seems that everyone in this city is desperately striving to be considered a true New Yorker and believe me there are certain ways you can tell if someone has… and especially hasn’t been in the city very long…

Here are a few ways you can tell someone is not a New Yorker-

1.) Either they cross the street too early and get beeped at (which is like being “called out”) by oncoming traffic or they cross the street too late. Hesitating will result in an unpleasant trampling by hurried pedestrians.

2.) They say sorry when they bump into you. Real New Yorkers throw nasty elbows and plant violent hockey-like shoves without regard and certainly without an apology.  

3.) Women who are new to the city walk to and from work in their 3-inch heels. Real NY woman throw on a pair of old sneakers with their finest work attire and smugly blow past the bluster stricken heel-wearing women.

4.) They are happy. There are only a few acceptable expressions a true New Yorker wears when walking down the street and happy certainly isn’t one of them.

5.) They walk slow-no explanation needed there, but if you aren’t in a mid-sprint you best believe you are about to hear some ungodly cussing directed your way.

6.) They are entertained by subway performers. Real New Yorkers have been there and seen that! Therefore, an old homeless man signing about 16-year old girls or two struggling transvestites doing the disco in the middle of a train doesn’t even register as something they should acknowledge.

That’s all for now-as I get more NYC sophisticated  I will finish this list…and if you think you know anymore post a comment!

Tranquil Thursday

After a long sleep I awoke feeling much better and although my eye was still blood-shot red hurting like a biotch I managed to make it through the day.

The day started off relatively slow. I ran some errands, all of which were near by so I didn’t have to ride the subway. I have to wonder if Katie is ever going to want me to take the train after my first misfortune? Hm only time will tell…

Anyway my Thursday was very peaceful. I got out of work early due to the holiday weekend and I rested the entire evening. Planning ahead I knew that tomorrow was the July the 4^th and if I didn’t want to look like a scary one-eyed monster then I needed some good R & R!

Hey, interns make mistakes too

So, the second day at Rabbit was not so kosher, and as all things in life go, the second time is never as good as the first time…so a screw up was bound to happen on my end.

And maybe it was my fault…maybe it was going out to the local Greenwich bars the night before with my roommate from Jersey and her girlfriends (pictures included) or maybe it was my horrible and intense allergies from this smoggy and dirt driven city (not in a negative manner but lets face it this city  damn dirty) or perhaps it was sheer bad luck-I dont know, but my second day at Rabbit was far from easy sailing (as they would say in Florida).

Day two might have started out with a bit of a hangover…hey, partying with under aged girls at raunchy bars can take a toll on this “old” woman’s body. Regardless, I was a bit groggy and thankfully it seemed everyone else at Rabbit was as well. Isn’t that the best…hangover on hangover: how to manage in the workforce while slightly intoxicated-sounds like a good “how to” book, right? 

My second day I was allotted more responsibilities than just passing out copied paper and answering the phones. One job in particular was to pick up a pair of speakers that my boss, Douglas wanted for his new big screen television in his office. The funny thing about the TV was that in all its big screen Hi-Def glory the manufactures forgot to include speakers. For this reason, I would be venturing to Circuit City in Union Square.

Being the city suave girl I am learning to be I had prepared for an outing such as this and pulled my sneakers out of my purse.  As I was tying my shoelace, Katie shot me a confused expression and said, you are not planning on walking there. I would have answered with a yes, but clearly that was a not a question -it was more of a command. 

At this moment, suave city girl disappeared and my southern side really showed. In the mist of insisting that I would just walk the fifteen blocks Katie completely called me out and said have you not been on the subway? I meekly answered, not alone.

This is when Madonna’s producer Holli, Holli calls me Intern not Erin not even Erin the Intern, but just Intern. She was working at Rabbit while Madonna was shooting a video and  she is a good friend of Douglas’s.

Anyway, Holli overheard the commotion and went all crazy bitch on me. She pulled out her map and starting quizzing me on what’s uptown-what’s downtown…answers I didn’t know.

First, she wanted to prove to me that I was clueless (which she was fabulous at doing) and then she wanted to help.

Holli jerked me off my seat (literally…she is quite aggressive) and told Katie she would walk me down. Katie passed me  her unlimited metro pass and my e-gift certificate for $300 dollars. She told me not to loose it and wished me good luck.

Walking to the subway with Holli was more like a hustle or a small sprint. She was spouting out information and rushing me along. We arrived at the gate as the N-train was pulling up. Holli swiped Katie’s metro card placed it in my hand and gave me a good shoved right onto the train. As I flew in, a bit surprised, the train doors close and I turned to see Holli waving ecstatically- ahh she was so proud…and honestly, a bit fucking crazy. 

There I was on my first subway trip…all alone. See Dad, this is the type of freedom I am talking about…personal freedom/independence NOT financial freedom (seriously not financial freedom…please don’t cut me off).

Two stops later I arrived on 14^th street in Union Square. I love Union Square. It is four blocks up from my dorm and a very populated area at night even during the days there are always crazy festivals taking place.

I walked into Circuit City not knowing the agony I was about to be put into.  Instantly I noticed a difference in costumer service. It took me three employees to find the speakers-instead of walking me to the section they would sluggishly point in a general direction. How rude? And lazy! Damn northerns…

Finally, I got to the correct section and this large black man unwillingly helped me. He said they had one more set of speakers in stock and proceeded to ring me up. However, the e-gift card Katie purchased was not valid?? To make a long …long…long story short Katie and I both had to speak to various people over the phone and in the store to finally make the purchase.

I had been there for two hours I was sweaty, hungry, hung-over, and starting to get a gnarly eye infection.  After another thirty minutes and about four bitchy costumer service people I had Douglas speakers…

What I didn’t have was Katie’s unlimited metro card. Mother F**$#@! 

This is when I started freaking out on multiple Circuit City employees…it got messy and I looked even worse. My right eye was bright red and starting to swell. After many attempts I had to accept my screw up. The card was gone. I called Eva hoping to hear some good news , but she said there was nothing I could do.  So I cried…in the Circuit City CD isle.  Not only did it take me two and a half hours to get speakers but in the strife of it all I lost my bosses metro card! Classic intern

I called Katie on my train back and prepared her for the bad news. Luckily she purchased her metro card on a credit and had it canceled. I felt a little better-still I was defeated by a fucking Circuit City trip.

All I wanted to do was go home… It was after five when I arrived back at Rabbit. Katie said I could leave and as I was packing up one of our directors Melissa pulled me aside to help her scan some material and make a bunch of PDF’s.

I have never worked with a director one on one but I was aware of their perfection obsessed personalities. The myth is true, two hours later and with nearly every attempt of mine shot down Katie insisted to Melissa that I go home. Thank God for Katie.

With a swollen blood-shot eye I walked home…feeling a bit like a screw-up. Then my Mother reminded me hey, interns make mistakes too!  

Rabbit Pictures

First Day

Rabbit

I left my dorm pretty early because the walk is about 20 minutes. Not knowing what to expect I dressed semi-casual and packed heels in my purse to put on once I got there. Obviously walking 20 minutes in heels was out of the question…great choice on my part (more on that later).

Anyway, my first day at Rabbit content was wonderful. Located on the corner of Broadway and Prince in the heart of SoHo, which stands for South of Houston street. Houston street is a long and popular street in NY and widely used for reference when getting/giving directions.

Rabbit is located on the top floor of a large brick building.  It is like no office I have been in before the atmosphere is relaxed and inviting-almost home-like. There is chill music playing throughout and large opened windows letting in NY cool breezes and sunlight. Instead of small cubicles and isolated offices we have couches, long tables and open rooms. It is pretty much a large penthouse where people constantly come in and out-chilling, chatting, and creating…It is quite social.

I had made a great choice by wearing flip-flops because everyone had either flats or sneakers on even the boss, Douglas was wearing shorts. The second I came in Katie put me to work and in typical intern tradition I did a very random job. I had to assemble an orbital chair for Betsy and Katrin’s room (picture included).

My other tasks for the day included: Grabbing copied paper from the printer and walking it to the rightful master and learning to answer and transfer callers on the telephone (this was done with minimal difficulty only hanging up on every other incoming call)…that’s pretty much it.

Other than those few small tasks Katie, my boss, wanted me to take the day to get use to the office/penthouse and the people working in it…using my detective skills here is what I have discovered about the staff at Rabbit.

When you walk into the front door of the office you greeted by a lovely 22-year-old British woman with a sensational accent that can even make the word fuck sound proper.  She has been with Douglas (the owner who is also British) the longest-it seems she was an intern in London at the company that Douglas worked for. When he decided to open his own business he brought Danielle with him. She is his personal assistant but helps everyone else out as well.

After Danielle greets you, the various barking dogs that roam our office often greet you.  In general having dogs in an office is considered not professional, but the word professional seems to be quite meaningless in this office…thankfully!

Then you will see Katie, my boss. Katie is probably in her mid- 20’s and from Minnesota. She is fantastic! I like her most because her personality is quite genuine and raw.  She says what she wants (cuss words often included) and never sugar coats anything…but she is not too aggressive and intimating. She made me feel comfortable and like I could ask her anything (good boss).

Next there is Betsy and Katrin. I am not quite sure of their rolls in the company but as soon as I have that figured out I will update. I do know Katin is from Germany and Betsy has the cutest dog.

Then there is Douglas. He is the owner of Rabbit and a great leader. He seems to be very respected by his employees, he knows everyone and has many friends.  There is no doubt that he is successful, but he is not flash (flash is a British word I have picked up it means cocky and flaunty-two things Douglas is not), which is rare.

Finally, there is Keith. My best judgment would lead me to believe that Keith, our office cook, is gay (hopefully that isn't rude or offensive just kinda pointing out the obvious).  He is wonderful and instantly made me feel welcome. He also makes and orders the best tasting food and always keeps a snack on the kitchen island. He has Bagels and pastries in the morning then fresh fruit or maybe some cheesecake and coffee in the afternoon, he might throw together a nice cheese platter or some guacamole and pita throughout the day. Whatever he is cooking up looks picture perfect and tastes even better.

Finally, I met a few of our directors all of which were very unique and even more talented. Overall, it is an pleasant and inspiring group at Rabbit and I am happy to be involved with them.

 

Tavern on the Green and Subway Pictures

Just got off the subway
Christina, Eva and I on the Subway
Tavern on the Green before we left

RECAP-Day Three YANKEE GAME!

Day two...

Maybe it was all the trendy drinks or the sauna-like atmosphere of my dorm, but I slept like a baby my first night in New York City. I had been anticipating waking up in the city for some time now. This was due solely to the famous Frank Sinatra's song "New York, New York" that I had been relentlessly over-playing for the last few weeks. You know you know how it goes...

*I wanna wake up in the city, that doesn't sleep-

*And find I'm king of the hill- top of the heap-A # one

*These little town blues, are melting away...I would go on, but i probably already got it stuck in your head for at least a couple hours! Ha.

Anyway, so there I was waking up in the city with actually nothing to do. Under the circumstances and being the girly-girly that I am I had to go shopping and it was wonderful! After an exhausting day of walking mile after mile and viciously fighting off the New York shopping crowd I was extremely hungry! Thus, I checked out the dining hall at NYU. 

It's cool because when I signed up for my dorm I also had to choose a dining hall package (of course the price was not included as in NY everything cost an arm or a leg maybe even just a piece of your ear-but hell it's pricey). At first, I wasn't thrilled about this cafeteria situation but it has proven to be quite convenient and very tasty. 

After my lonely lunch, and yes, I ate alone like a loser, I wanted to check out the gym. The gym I was going to was about a 15 or 20 minutes walk so I had time for my food to digest (in case anyone was worried about my digestive system). At the gym I met an awesomely adorable guy from Tennessee and he was the only "tenn I see". Just kidding I just always have wanted to use that line...

Anywho, the guy showed me all the in's and out's of the gym. They have a lot of rules so I am glad he gave me the low-down. Also, he showed me how to sign up for spinning classes. So yes, ARI the answer to "Do you think I should bring my spinning shoes to New York", shouldn't have been no.  

During my workout I got a text from lovely Eva asking me if I wanted to go to the Yankee's game that night because her friend Christina got tickets for Eva, her other friend Julie and me. I didn't even consider turning them down even if the following morning was my first day on the job . Clearly, I came to party (j/k DAD I came for other things too). 

Moving on, because this is getting lengthy (so much to say). I met Eva and the girls at Tavern on the Green (where they work at planning events) and had a couple glasses of champagne. Then I took my first subway with the girls to the Bronx for the game...I have another not-so-great alone subway experience, which will be offered in coming posts. I thought the subway was pretty raunchy but fun although, I will say that Christina didn't think the subway was so great, as it was her first experience as well. 

The Yankees game was fabulously and I hear I am very lucky to have attended one of the games because this is the last season that they will play in this stadium. I am told it has held a lot of records (Babe Ruth? right? I don't know I went for the beer, hot dogs, and cute boys).  And after the game, which they lost to Texas, the girls and I hit up a famous Yankee bar that was behind the stadium. We were actually summoned in by sweaty men and only stayed for a couple beers because "we are working women" (Quote: Julie), but the bar it was a pretty great time! Overall, day two was a another success! AND Day three I will start my J.O.B. (unpaid and not for school credit...i might be getting screwed-OH well! I am in NYC)! Good night...

Recap

Side Note: The island of Manhattan is similar to the Caribbean islands I have visited in that it is easy to loose track of all sense of time.  For that reason, I am going to have to backtrack a little and recap

 on the last few days...

Day one: June 30

Freedom...

I watched my dads cab drive away as I stood on the corner of Broadway and 8th street. Instead of walking back to my dorm I slowly strolled the populated streets of the city. Taking it all in.

 It felt good to be alone. It felt good to take the route I wanted to take, to make the turns and stops wherever I chose. And then it came to me, this was my first breathe of true freedom and I liked it. 

I took a short run that afternoon around my area but to be frank running in the city is kinda a bitch. First, those damn tourists (ha, how ironic) are always lost...someone once told me that you can tell if someone is a tourists because they are always looking up-this is true. Anyway, I think the worst part of running in  New York is the smokers. They are everywhere! But don't worry about me (if you even were at all), later found an awesome place to run that is actually safe-my parents will be relieved. I am getting ahead of my self though. 

The Village

My area is wonderful. I told that I am lucky because West Village is the newest trendy/upscale place to live. My dorm is quite old though and when they built it some senseless person (probably a man who doesn't have to blow dry his hair every morning) decided not to install air-conditioning. Needless to say, having no-air is cruel. However, because my area is so nice I have accepted the sweatiness that resides in my residence.  

After getting use to things, I decided I needed to go out. I called Eva to meet up with her and her friend from work, Chris. He use to live in the village and pointed out some of the hot spots. We went to a few bars that night and I can only remember a couple of the names but I did have this really awesome drink with vodka, basil and a splash of lemon. Apparently, it's the new mojito -my dad would have loved it!