...just a few things that I notice that I thought I would share... should have started this months ago...
Only in New York...
8. are the buildings so old that when you stand up from your desk at work your chair rolls to the opposite side of the room.
7. the fact that a tv show / movie is filming on your block is ordinary. The day that they are not there is out of the ordinary.
6. apartment buildings only stay standing because they are connected to one another
5. pumpkins and turkeys take priority over christmas trees
4. do they not put margarine on your sandwich as default, but will happily put a stack of 8 slices of cheese, or turkey as thick as a sausage on your roll.
3. does it takes 5 fire engines and 4 ambulances to get a cat out of a tree.
2. do they put garden chairs on median strips... just in case you want to watch the traffic fly by... I think its because there are no parks or green areas to put them in.
1. sultana does not exist in their vocabulary.
great start i think.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Friday, September 11, 2009
N'Awlins...
Last week we had a long weekend, so I headed down to New Orleans (or N'Awlins as the locals pronounce it) for an long-long weekend... 4 days of hanging in the sun and thunderstorms down in the deep deep South... (well not that deep but a little). It was really an eye opening experience and probably the most unique city I've visited so far. We stayed in the French Quarter, one of the oldest and most touristy part of the city. By day it is a quaint, European, tree lined and terrace filled mini city, and by night it becomes wild when the city's finest come out to party. Bourbon St, one of the main streets of the quarter, lined with open bars and clubs and jazz haunts gets closed off whilst all these venues are overflowing with party goers dancing and singing as live bands belt out jazz, rock and pop songs from all ages. Handing out grenades, hurricanes and 'big ass' beers, (all beverages) the only rule is too pour your drinks into plastic before venturing outside... yes, in N'Awlins you can drink alcohol in the streets, and it seems that's what the locals are best at! As the nights got later the crowds seemed to grow, whilst their demeanor more trashy... we seemed to have landed in NO not only on the busiest long weekend of the year, but it also happened to be the second biggest gay event of the year after mardi gras, so as you can imagine the outfits were as colorful as over.
There is a tradition in New Orleans, originating from Mardi Gras time, when gay men would throw bead necklaces to waiting crowds to generate excitement, today it has also been a tradition picked up by the streetworkers who fill Bourbon St strip joints and massage parlours... they hang out their windows from two stories high and throw necklaces at oggling boys who await them in the street below... in the day time you see trees filled with left over beads from party nights throughout the city... i don't think they are ever removed...
Late one night we stumbled across an amazing piano bar.. if you ever get down there its called Pat Obriens, it has a massive windowless room with two grand pianos... famous for their hurricanes (6 shots and some red stuff in a big cup) three musicians would rotate around the pianos and belt out old tunes to the excited audience... although loud and slightly raucous it was way more chilled and enjoyable then the hecticness outside... we actually ended up visiting every night we were there... we were even dedicated our own rendition of 'I come from the land down under'!
By day the city is all but deserted... i guess everyone sleeps off their big nights... our day times were spent exploring the different areas of the city. The bit I enjoyed most was a tour of the devastated regions of Hurricane Katrina. Our guide took us through the 9th Ward, it was amazing to see that it was still as delapitated as the day after the hurricane left, just 5 years later... wood houses windowless, roofless, broken verandahs and staircases, desolate. Inhabitants in every 10th house, not a person in sight at 12pm on a Saturday... 14 ft below see level this was the hardest hit area, and the one to receive the least aid. With water up to their roofs, residents unable to evacuate or swim, tried to scramble on to their rooftops and ride out the storm...most didnt make it. Every couple of blocks there are vacant plots... places where houses stood before the storm, which were washed away in its fury. Every other house in the 9th ward has spraypainted big X's on the house, a sign left by rescuers to show that they had been inside to look for savivors. Under the X's listed what was found inside... 1 human, 1 dog, 1 bird. As a low income area, with very few residents who returned the government hasn't put any funds in to fixing the area, the residents that are left have very little amenities because of this, no cable no filtered water, no internet. One bright hope for the future of this area is an initiative by Brad Pitt. New Orleans is covered with signs and t shirts saying 'Brad Pitt for Mayor'. Besides him and Angelina living in their own NO mansion, Brad has started a fundraising project whereby he has invited 10 famous architects from around the US and given them each several plots of land in the 9th Ward and encouraged them to build what ever housing they liked. The houses are then given to Hurricane survivors. The houses are mostly ultra modern and brightly painted, a stark contrast to the rest of the neighbood, but nevertheless a heartfelt initiative. The neighbourhoods surrounding the 9th Ward are filled with mansions, houses like you've never seen, 16 room residences, beautiful gardens, amazing that these which were also under 15ft of water, 5 years later look like nothing ever happened... it was a clear indication of with who the governments priorities lay.
We also went on a steamboat ride down the Mississippi... sounds cooler then it was... one other thing... Southern Food... well lets just say its an acquired taste... think every off cut you could find in a chefs kitchen, every part of the bull, the crab and the lobster, boiled for hours and served as a thick interesting smelling soup... they call it Gumbo... we preferred to stick to the hotel for food... the final day before our flight we jumped on a street car (tram) and toured the New Orleans suburbs... i felt like i was in a scene from To Kill a Mocking Bird... was a great weekend... one I feel exposed all the facets of the true America... life outside New York.
This weekend I'm taking it easy.
I'm staying in. Just me the gym and maybe a trip to Macy's...... just for Dad's present! promise!
There is a tradition in New Orleans, originating from Mardi Gras time, when gay men would throw bead necklaces to waiting crowds to generate excitement, today it has also been a tradition picked up by the streetworkers who fill Bourbon St strip joints and massage parlours... they hang out their windows from two stories high and throw necklaces at oggling boys who await them in the street below... in the day time you see trees filled with left over beads from party nights throughout the city... i don't think they are ever removed...
Late one night we stumbled across an amazing piano bar.. if you ever get down there its called Pat Obriens, it has a massive windowless room with two grand pianos... famous for their hurricanes (6 shots and some red stuff in a big cup) three musicians would rotate around the pianos and belt out old tunes to the excited audience... although loud and slightly raucous it was way more chilled and enjoyable then the hecticness outside... we actually ended up visiting every night we were there... we were even dedicated our own rendition of 'I come from the land down under'!
By day the city is all but deserted... i guess everyone sleeps off their big nights... our day times were spent exploring the different areas of the city. The bit I enjoyed most was a tour of the devastated regions of Hurricane Katrina. Our guide took us through the 9th Ward, it was amazing to see that it was still as delapitated as the day after the hurricane left, just 5 years later... wood houses windowless, roofless, broken verandahs and staircases, desolate. Inhabitants in every 10th house, not a person in sight at 12pm on a Saturday... 14 ft below see level this was the hardest hit area, and the one to receive the least aid. With water up to their roofs, residents unable to evacuate or swim, tried to scramble on to their rooftops and ride out the storm...most didnt make it. Every couple of blocks there are vacant plots... places where houses stood before the storm, which were washed away in its fury. Every other house in the 9th ward has spraypainted big X's on the house, a sign left by rescuers to show that they had been inside to look for savivors. Under the X's listed what was found inside... 1 human, 1 dog, 1 bird. As a low income area, with very few residents who returned the government hasn't put any funds in to fixing the area, the residents that are left have very little amenities because of this, no cable no filtered water, no internet. One bright hope for the future of this area is an initiative by Brad Pitt. New Orleans is covered with signs and t shirts saying 'Brad Pitt for Mayor'. Besides him and Angelina living in their own NO mansion, Brad has started a fundraising project whereby he has invited 10 famous architects from around the US and given them each several plots of land in the 9th Ward and encouraged them to build what ever housing they liked. The houses are then given to Hurricane survivors. The houses are mostly ultra modern and brightly painted, a stark contrast to the rest of the neighbood, but nevertheless a heartfelt initiative. The neighbourhoods surrounding the 9th Ward are filled with mansions, houses like you've never seen, 16 room residences, beautiful gardens, amazing that these which were also under 15ft of water, 5 years later look like nothing ever happened... it was a clear indication of with who the governments priorities lay.
We also went on a steamboat ride down the Mississippi... sounds cooler then it was... one other thing... Southern Food... well lets just say its an acquired taste... think every off cut you could find in a chefs kitchen, every part of the bull, the crab and the lobster, boiled for hours and served as a thick interesting smelling soup... they call it Gumbo... we preferred to stick to the hotel for food... the final day before our flight we jumped on a street car (tram) and toured the New Orleans suburbs... i felt like i was in a scene from To Kill a Mocking Bird... was a great weekend... one I feel exposed all the facets of the true America... life outside New York.
This weekend I'm taking it easy.
I'm staying in. Just me the gym and maybe a trip to Macy's...... just for Dad's present! promise!
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Times are changing...
It's been over a year now in NY and things are starting to feel like home. I've finally learnt the value of each coin, I know the subway map like the back of my hand, my laundromat lady, Zarina and I are on first name basis, she makes her staff save my washing so she can fold it when she gets in, and words are starting to come out slightly Americanised, Tom-A-to, Wate-R, Z-ee, Sometimes its easier to just adapt rather than get questioned each time. The time has flown, I've visited a different state almost every month, entertained guests just as regularly on my famous blow up bed ("guarenteed to be the most comfiest bed ever slept on") and have spent almost every cent I've earnt on entertainment, concerts, plays, musicals, food, drinks, travel and clothing. It truly has been an awesome (there I go another american word) 12 months, one in which I've grown, matured and learnt loads about myself.
Now for what's to come... Year number 2 has started off almost more exciting then Year number 1! Last week my boss asked me to leave Deepend and start a new business with him. It has really been the break I have been looking for, an opportunity for maximum responsibilty, challenges at every step of the way, stimulation of my brain and the chance to really take charge of something. I have been looking for months for a job with more stisfaction, and when this opened itself to me I jumped at the chance. Within 7 days he had decided to leave, resigned, employed me and I had resigned as well as bringing along another designer. Whilst alot of people have asked me if I am crazy to leave a secure job and start a startup in such a volatile time, but for me I really have nothing to lose and everything to gain. James, my boss, is great, he has an enourmous amount of knowledge, good contacts and reputation within the industry. We've got a bunch of old clients who have moved with us, and have so much work on our plate we are unsure how to get it all done... there are worse risks to take I think! So the new company is called Flint and it is slightly less interactive focussed then my work has been in the past, basically we are working with either existing companies launching new businesses and products, or with startups, entrepreneurs with exciting ideas but need help building their idea and producing a market leading product/service. Our job is to help them develop this and position them competitively within their market, research their competition and develop ideas allowing them to differentiate. Thats step 1, step 2 comes once the strategy has been developed, and invloves us helping them actually develop the product, business or service no matter its sphere, be it an online interactive startup, a new product, or a new service. Already we have 3 start up clients in the pipeline, all working with us to launch amazing new ideas. All going well we' ll be successful and I'll have an amazing time.
My mind right now is kinda like a tissue stuck in a washing machine,.. this has all happened over the past month, mum also came to town, we went to toronto and niagara. Having her here was lots of fun and a great addition to all the chaos... today I'm on a plane to New Orleans, and in less than 2 weeks I just found out I'm on a plane back to Sydney to get a new visa. Amazing where life takes you if venture outside your comfort zone. Right now I'm just going along with it and enjoying the ride!
Sydney siders, I'll see you shortly, New Yorkers,you got me here for a little while longer!
xxx.
Now for what's to come... Year number 2 has started off almost more exciting then Year number 1! Last week my boss asked me to leave Deepend and start a new business with him. It has really been the break I have been looking for, an opportunity for maximum responsibilty, challenges at every step of the way, stimulation of my brain and the chance to really take charge of something. I have been looking for months for a job with more stisfaction, and when this opened itself to me I jumped at the chance. Within 7 days he had decided to leave, resigned, employed me and I had resigned as well as bringing along another designer. Whilst alot of people have asked me if I am crazy to leave a secure job and start a startup in such a volatile time, but for me I really have nothing to lose and everything to gain. James, my boss, is great, he has an enourmous amount of knowledge, good contacts and reputation within the industry. We've got a bunch of old clients who have moved with us, and have so much work on our plate we are unsure how to get it all done... there are worse risks to take I think! So the new company is called Flint and it is slightly less interactive focussed then my work has been in the past, basically we are working with either existing companies launching new businesses and products, or with startups, entrepreneurs with exciting ideas but need help building their idea and producing a market leading product/service. Our job is to help them develop this and position them competitively within their market, research their competition and develop ideas allowing them to differentiate. Thats step 1, step 2 comes once the strategy has been developed, and invloves us helping them actually develop the product, business or service no matter its sphere, be it an online interactive startup, a new product, or a new service. Already we have 3 start up clients in the pipeline, all working with us to launch amazing new ideas. All going well we' ll be successful and I'll have an amazing time.
My mind right now is kinda like a tissue stuck in a washing machine,.. this has all happened over the past month, mum also came to town, we went to toronto and niagara. Having her here was lots of fun and a great addition to all the chaos... today I'm on a plane to New Orleans, and in less than 2 weeks I just found out I'm on a plane back to Sydney to get a new visa. Amazing where life takes you if venture outside your comfort zone. Right now I'm just going along with it and enjoying the ride!
Sydney siders, I'll see you shortly, New Yorkers,you got me here for a little while longer!
xxx.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
4 visitors. 3 states. 2 months.
so thats where I've been.... Summer has hit, although it could be easily mistaken for some other season.. not summer... its incredible, it has hardly stopped raining... infact i read that in June it rained 4 out of every 5 days... lovely when its mixed with 95% humidity and yet I still found myself in my gumboots trudging to work.. yes you're right, gross... so I decided to leave for a bit... first port.. Seattle..
My first venture to the west coast (apart from the obligatory LA/SanFran airport visits) was to the rainy city for a Netball tournament...just to clarify, no I'm no pro who gets shipped around the country to play netball, not sure if I've explained it before but as Netball is not a sport known to Americans (infact when I tell them I play netball they more often then not think I'm saying nipple... story for another time) anyway as there aren't enough teams in the country to form a regular tournament, different teams around the country host tournament days and invite teams from other states... it ends up being a full on day of round robin type netball, usually a 9 - 6 affair, approx 8 games, and lots of sore muscles... but nonetheless a good opportunity to see the country! So back to Seattle... and my lovely king size bed at the Westin... we got a sweet deal in the heart of the city, so at least the night before the big day was a comfortable one.. so we played a lovely tournament, great teams, great competition, and through some technicality we actually won the biggest trophy of the day, all came away with medals...and followed the evening with a celebratory meal in downtown seattle... what was slated for a big night out ended with all of us falling asleep around the dinner table...
The next day a few of us stayed in the city to do some exploring... we went down to Pike Place for a nice brunch, saw the fish markets with men throwing fish around the place, visited the first ever Starbucks and then boarded the Ride the Duck Seattle tour. With quackers in hand we woke up the sleepy city blowing our duck horns as we checked out the sites with our crazy duck driver.. we passed the important sites, the outside of the Grey's Anatomy hospital, Seattle Grace, (its not really a hospital, just an office block... I know i was devastated too!!) and then some sporting grounds and thats about all i remember! The duck took a dip into the lake/river not sure what it was... and toured the houseboats which many Seattle folk choose to live in.. truly is a pretty seaside town,... we passed the Sleepless In Seattle houseboat ala Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks and then ventured back to dry land... We then ventured back to dry land, went up the space needle, thats the tallest structure in Seattle, and got a pretty view of the nice city. By the afternoon our muscles were cramping again so we found lovely seats outside an Irish pub and parked ourselves there in the afternoon sun until it was time for our red eye overnight flight home... I love that I have found this netball team... its truly a group of about 30 fantastic girls, i look forward every week to our training sessions, most are aussie/english or new zealand expats.. all on the same journey as I am, its great sharing stories, socialising together as well as keeping fit!
Next up was Miami, if you're into fishbowl margharita's, fake boobs, hot cars and rhinestones this place is for you. I headed down with Romy to escape the New York summer rain (think belinda carlisle :P We met up with Audrey down there, and for the first time ever I sat in the sun and did nothing! So unlike me... For 4 days straight I either sat by the pool or on the beach and did nothing! By day three yes I was getting a bit anxious, left the girls baking and headed to go for a bit of window shopping, I didnt buy anything, even though those rhinestone covered jeans, hats, singlets, belts and shoes were so appealing... every shop seemed to sell the same te-shirts saying 'Im in Miami Bitch', i'm still trying to understand it, i feel like there's a joke and I'm just not getting it... anyway the highlight of my walk was checking out amazing hotel after amazing hotel... they know how to build great pools in miami! the art deco buildings also rekindled my love of architecture.. to such an extent I have spent more then a few moments recently wanting to go back to school (...so american) and study architecture like i wanted to 1o years ago... still a dream, but maybe one day reality... who knows... anyway back to miami, our hotel, The Clevelander... before you book it, talk to me please! whilst it was fairly nice, and clean, there motto when you complained about noisy neighbours, was Well why don't you just join there party!' and whilst spending the night with Crystal and her 15 girlfriends celebrating her 25th was appealing, sleep was the preferred option... was a nice few days, and much needed beach/sea/fresh air break... recommend it to all... Florida is a state I can see myself visiting again and again...
My first venture to the west coast (apart from the obligatory LA/SanFran airport visits) was to the rainy city for a Netball tournament...just to clarify, no I'm no pro who gets shipped around the country to play netball, not sure if I've explained it before but as Netball is not a sport known to Americans (infact when I tell them I play netball they more often then not think I'm saying nipple... story for another time) anyway as there aren't enough teams in the country to form a regular tournament, different teams around the country host tournament days and invite teams from other states... it ends up being a full on day of round robin type netball, usually a 9 - 6 affair, approx 8 games, and lots of sore muscles... but nonetheless a good opportunity to see the country! So back to Seattle... and my lovely king size bed at the Westin... we got a sweet deal in the heart of the city, so at least the night before the big day was a comfortable one.. so we played a lovely tournament, great teams, great competition, and through some technicality we actually won the biggest trophy of the day, all came away with medals...and followed the evening with a celebratory meal in downtown seattle... what was slated for a big night out ended with all of us falling asleep around the dinner table...
The next day a few of us stayed in the city to do some exploring... we went down to Pike Place for a nice brunch, saw the fish markets with men throwing fish around the place, visited the first ever Starbucks and then boarded the Ride the Duck Seattle tour. With quackers in hand we woke up the sleepy city blowing our duck horns as we checked out the sites with our crazy duck driver.. we passed the important sites, the outside of the Grey's Anatomy hospital, Seattle Grace, (its not really a hospital, just an office block... I know i was devastated too!!) and then some sporting grounds and thats about all i remember! The duck took a dip into the lake/river not sure what it was... and toured the houseboats which many Seattle folk choose to live in.. truly is a pretty seaside town,... we passed the Sleepless In Seattle houseboat ala Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks and then ventured back to dry land... We then ventured back to dry land, went up the space needle, thats the tallest structure in Seattle, and got a pretty view of the nice city. By the afternoon our muscles were cramping again so we found lovely seats outside an Irish pub and parked ourselves there in the afternoon sun until it was time for our red eye overnight flight home... I love that I have found this netball team... its truly a group of about 30 fantastic girls, i look forward every week to our training sessions, most are aussie/english or new zealand expats.. all on the same journey as I am, its great sharing stories, socialising together as well as keeping fit!
Next up was Miami, if you're into fishbowl margharita's, fake boobs, hot cars and rhinestones this place is for you. I headed down with Romy to escape the New York summer rain (think belinda carlisle :P We met up with Audrey down there, and for the first time ever I sat in the sun and did nothing! So unlike me... For 4 days straight I either sat by the pool or on the beach and did nothing! By day three yes I was getting a bit anxious, left the girls baking and headed to go for a bit of window shopping, I didnt buy anything, even though those rhinestone covered jeans, hats, singlets, belts and shoes were so appealing... every shop seemed to sell the same te-shirts saying 'Im in Miami Bitch', i'm still trying to understand it, i feel like there's a joke and I'm just not getting it... anyway the highlight of my walk was checking out amazing hotel after amazing hotel... they know how to build great pools in miami! the art deco buildings also rekindled my love of architecture.. to such an extent I have spent more then a few moments recently wanting to go back to school (...so american) and study architecture like i wanted to 1o years ago... still a dream, but maybe one day reality... who knows... anyway back to miami, our hotel, The Clevelander... before you book it, talk to me please! whilst it was fairly nice, and clean, there motto when you complained about noisy neighbours, was Well why don't you just join there party!' and whilst spending the night with Crystal and her 15 girlfriends celebrating her 25th was appealing, sleep was the preferred option... was a nice few days, and much needed beach/sea/fresh air break... recommend it to all... Florida is a state I can see myself visiting again and again...
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
So you're either really excited to find a new entry here, or I've lost you all cos I haven't written in a while... apologies as usual, but as you probably know I've just been too busy having too much fun to write.. just kidding... life just flies by, but here I am so that's all that's important... I've just got back from Sydney (well nearly three weeks ago now), seems like ages ago! It was interesting going on a holiday back home, not sure what too expect, but by the end of it i was kinda sad to leave :P
The flight back home was good... I got upgraded (thanks again jase :P) and I ended up sitting next to an old friend from uni which was a bonus... I got through 3 dinners in a row and about 12 movies. Finally got to Sydney and oggled the vast expanse of sky I could see everywhere, as well as grass on the sidewalk... both things almost foreign to me now! Whilst it was great to see all my family and friends, for the first week all I wanted was to be back in NY... I guess that means I'm not so ready to come home just yet... nothing at home was as good as it is over here right now... not in an offensive way, but to me it just meant I have more personal growth and exploration to do over here before I decide to come back home... (hey you should stop complaining and be happy the phrase 'before I decide to come back home' was in that sentence!!) By the end of the first day I'd caught up with those near and dear, and of course visited WBJ... can you believe it, WBJ on my first day!! im sick...but it was mum's fault. I didnt buy anything there till my second day though so thats still thats impressive...
...great now its been 2.5 weeks I've forgotten what i did....lots of breakfasts, lots of lunches... lots of drinks!! I spent a great day with my sister cruising the harbour which was lots of fun and spent quality time with all those that mattered... I went to Melbourne for a quick 12 hour stint which was awesome (sorry if you live there and i didnt see you, it really only had one purpose).... and i also got to welcome beautiful maya into the world...by the second week I was much more comfortable being at home and enjoyed myself a lot more, it may have been that I was over the jet lag, but i think more then that i was just slipping back into life as it was before i left... not in a bad way, but it's something I'm just not ready to slip back into yet...leaving was sad, but it was a little better knowing the night before I left I booked my next ticket back home... and no sorry its not a one way just yet...
..so back in the city that never sleeps is great, thats almost what I've been doing!! Memorial Day long weekend was lots of fun.. dont think I've done as much in one long weekend then I have then... i wont bore you with all the details, but the two highlights being discovering a new bar.. called the frying pan it is new yorks answer to watsons bay... a massive deck out on the hudson river, bands playing at night, sangria and burgers in the day, and the beautiful sun (which yes has decided to come out) shining down on everyone...its a great atmosphere... I also got my ass back into excercise mode by going on a day hike about an hour north of the city... any excuse to get some clean fresh air is a highlight!!
Work is going well too, we've recently one 3 big projects so its all systems go and I'm being kept super busy... lucky I've booked my next to holidays and have something to look forward to, Seattle next weekend for a netball tournament, and Miami for the 4th of July holiday, can't wait for either..
now i need sleep.
hope all is good by you!
write soon... hugs and kisses, m. xx
The flight back home was good... I got upgraded (thanks again jase :P) and I ended up sitting next to an old friend from uni which was a bonus... I got through 3 dinners in a row and about 12 movies. Finally got to Sydney and oggled the vast expanse of sky I could see everywhere, as well as grass on the sidewalk... both things almost foreign to me now! Whilst it was great to see all my family and friends, for the first week all I wanted was to be back in NY... I guess that means I'm not so ready to come home just yet... nothing at home was as good as it is over here right now... not in an offensive way, but to me it just meant I have more personal growth and exploration to do over here before I decide to come back home... (hey you should stop complaining and be happy the phrase 'before I decide to come back home' was in that sentence!!) By the end of the first day I'd caught up with those near and dear, and of course visited WBJ... can you believe it, WBJ on my first day!! im sick...but it was mum's fault. I didnt buy anything there till my second day though so thats still thats impressive...
...great now its been 2.5 weeks I've forgotten what i did....lots of breakfasts, lots of lunches... lots of drinks!! I spent a great day with my sister cruising the harbour which was lots of fun and spent quality time with all those that mattered... I went to Melbourne for a quick 12 hour stint which was awesome (sorry if you live there and i didnt see you, it really only had one purpose).... and i also got to welcome beautiful maya into the world...by the second week I was much more comfortable being at home and enjoyed myself a lot more, it may have been that I was over the jet lag, but i think more then that i was just slipping back into life as it was before i left... not in a bad way, but it's something I'm just not ready to slip back into yet...leaving was sad, but it was a little better knowing the night before I left I booked my next ticket back home... and no sorry its not a one way just yet...
..so back in the city that never sleeps is great, thats almost what I've been doing!! Memorial Day long weekend was lots of fun.. dont think I've done as much in one long weekend then I have then... i wont bore you with all the details, but the two highlights being discovering a new bar.. called the frying pan it is new yorks answer to watsons bay... a massive deck out on the hudson river, bands playing at night, sangria and burgers in the day, and the beautiful sun (which yes has decided to come out) shining down on everyone...its a great atmosphere... I also got my ass back into excercise mode by going on a day hike about an hour north of the city... any excuse to get some clean fresh air is a highlight!!
Work is going well too, we've recently one 3 big projects so its all systems go and I'm being kept super busy... lucky I've booked my next to holidays and have something to look forward to, Seattle next weekend for a netball tournament, and Miami for the 4th of July holiday, can't wait for either..
now i need sleep.
hope all is good by you!
write soon... hugs and kisses, m. xx
Friday, April 17, 2009
Spring has Sprung
and the rain is falling... my amazement for the seasons and the weather in this city continues... spring must be the rainy one. Just when I was trying to remember the last time it rained, as so little fell through winter (snow not included), it arrived. spring = rain. My third full season in NY, and yes this one is about rain. everyday. except yesterday which was a beautiful 17 degrees, but again today = rain. I guess it's needed, how else are the plants going to grow... one sec.. there are no plants in this city!!! but its still raining. And I have wet socks.
Enough whinging. When I wrote that first paragraph it was the 6th of April. Today is the 17th and the weather is a balmy 21 degrees... the warmest its been since October! Tomorrow is going to be 22 and I'm going for a picnic in central park! But like usual, the rain returns on sunday. 9 degrees. hmph.
Not too much out of the ordinary has been happening... the past week has been Passover in the city ... It started off with first night seder... a friend of mine organised it at his house, originally it was 14, 8 girls, 6 guys, nice. Thanks to google docs my new fave application we had an updateable spreadsheet where everybody could fill in what they were bringing who they were bringing and so on... an excel masterpiece I tell you... anyway the night came and due to a series of misfortunes we ended up being 10 girls, 2 guys... I wonder if that was orchestrated... haha.. with our hagadot in one hand, finger puppets in the other, we had a lovely seder with our family away from our families...and like most jewish functions we rolled home not being able to move after eating so much... goodie bag in hand, I had enough food for the next 8 days... funny that a holiday celebrating release from egypt and slavery these days denotes gorging yourself with food and singing nonsense songs about goats... but we're jews and I guess it goes hand in hand... second night we skipped the praying and went straight to the eating. I was invited to a restaraunt with my friend's family on the Upper East Side. Posh-a-rama... was a nice restaraunt with a 'Passover Menu'. Whilst other people sat there feasting on garlic bread, pasta, pizza and other yeast filled products our waiter served us plates of matza, lamb, chicken soup and the best flourless chocolate cake imaginable... it was a lovely night and a great way to start spoiling my diet. As I struggled through the rest of the week working out what to eat for breakfast lunch and dinner, I discovered I can make a mean steak and mashed sweet potato. come round for it anytime! I still havent found a replacement for porridge during pesach but this year matza with cheese was my staple breakfast. So last night pesach ended and I had already organised with a friend to go for a good burger and beer... whilst most cafe's and deli's in NY offer passover alternatives, counting down the last hours I felt like it was yom kippur... not eating yeast is hard.
l'shana haba'a b'yerushalayim. maybe.
Enough whinging. When I wrote that first paragraph it was the 6th of April. Today is the 17th and the weather is a balmy 21 degrees... the warmest its been since October! Tomorrow is going to be 22 and I'm going for a picnic in central park! But like usual, the rain returns on sunday. 9 degrees. hmph.
Not too much out of the ordinary has been happening... the past week has been Passover in the city ... It started off with first night seder... a friend of mine organised it at his house, originally it was 14, 8 girls, 6 guys, nice. Thanks to google docs my new fave application we had an updateable spreadsheet where everybody could fill in what they were bringing who they were bringing and so on... an excel masterpiece I tell you... anyway the night came and due to a series of misfortunes we ended up being 10 girls, 2 guys... I wonder if that was orchestrated... haha.. with our hagadot in one hand, finger puppets in the other, we had a lovely seder with our family away from our families...and like most jewish functions we rolled home not being able to move after eating so much... goodie bag in hand, I had enough food for the next 8 days... funny that a holiday celebrating release from egypt and slavery these days denotes gorging yourself with food and singing nonsense songs about goats... but we're jews and I guess it goes hand in hand... second night we skipped the praying and went straight to the eating. I was invited to a restaraunt with my friend's family on the Upper East Side. Posh-a-rama... was a nice restaraunt with a 'Passover Menu'. Whilst other people sat there feasting on garlic bread, pasta, pizza and other yeast filled products our waiter served us plates of matza, lamb, chicken soup and the best flourless chocolate cake imaginable... it was a lovely night and a great way to start spoiling my diet. As I struggled through the rest of the week working out what to eat for breakfast lunch and dinner, I discovered I can make a mean steak and mashed sweet potato. come round for it anytime! I still havent found a replacement for porridge during pesach but this year matza with cheese was my staple breakfast. So last night pesach ended and I had already organised with a friend to go for a good burger and beer... whilst most cafe's and deli's in NY offer passover alternatives, counting down the last hours I felt like it was yom kippur... not eating yeast is hard.
l'shana haba'a b'yerushalayim. maybe.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Introspection
So the facebook 25 things chain mail that everyone has jumped on has inspired me to do a bit of introspection on myself... not that I want to post it there for all to see, but I thought you special few who still read this might revel in my growth and self discovery over the past 29 years...here goes... in no particular order.
1. Whilst I have low tolerance for some people, I give everyone the benefit of the doubt for at least two weeks. If they cant prove themselves in that amount of time their out.
2. I have a new found fondness for headphones in this city but must turn them off when I walk into shops or am at work.. i think it has to do with confined spaces and headphones.. im scared I'll miss out on something... same goes for those noise cancelling headphones. a definite no no.
3. I am very patient. some might argue that, but I am. I have time for the slow people on the street, I have time for the noisy overbearing people at the table next to us, I have time for slow, inattentive waiters/waitresses, I have time for tourists who stop to take pictures.
4. I don't have time for the beggars, I don't have time for bouncers who let some people in and not others (not that i have never been let in but who do they think they are?!), I don't have time for people who leave their sweat on the machines/floor at the gym.
5. I will always take the revolving door over a normal door if its an option. It's a moment of fun and puts a smile on my face.
6. I work my best under pressure, at the last minute when there's a whole lot to do and no time to do it.
7. I'm a hard worker, I like to be challenged, inspired, busy 110% of the time and enjoy having a lot expected of me. I am extremely motivated when I put my mind to it.
8. I'm an impulse buyer. If I like it I'll buy it. I'm not in to umm and ahh-ing, shopping around or lay-buys. I think its a waste of valuable time. I love shopping for both myself and for/with other people.
9. Like myself, I like people who live for the moment, are spontaneous, don't worry what others think about them too much and don't think too far ahead in the future, what will be will be.
10. I like to feel secure money wise, I always have savings but not necessarily investments.
11. As a kid, and still sometimes today, I get scared by my shadow... seeing it on the bottom of swimming pools I get scared as if it were a shark. stop laughing.
12. In a positive way, I think I am a different person today then I was at school. I credit that to being a part of Betar, my biggest life changing years so far.
13. Whilst I would never wish for a better childhood/upbringing to what I received, I do wish I was exposed to other ways of life, people and religions at a younger age.
14. I dislike people who have everything they could ever wish for and take it for granted.
15. I am funny with wierd textures and food. avocado - out, custard - out, yoghurt - out, uncooked mushrooms - out, fish is out too but that is more to do with the smell (except canned tuna and smoked salmon, I like those).
16. I've never had a close-knit 'circle' of friends...not in Sydney and not in New York. I have a lot of friends in both cities, but all from different 'circles' of friends, sometimes I like it, sometimes I don't.
17. I enjoy being a kid. I enjoy rollercoasters, getting dirty, getting wet, arts and crafts, singing, not so much dancing, running around in a park, general kid-like behaviour.
18. For the amount of exercise I do, I always thought I'd be skinnier.
19. New York has changed me, I now do my washing. I can now cook, mildly. I go to the gym regularly, I can stay awake more hours in a day, I can walk really fast now, identifying my left from my right is improving, I consume more alcoholic beverages with my meals, I understand the importance of leaving a tip, I budget and record everything i spend, and I now READ!
20. I struggle being sympathetic. I give a good hug but I'm really bad at feeling sorry for people and listening to people's woes if the issue is banal and lame. It isn't on purpose and something I'm trying to get better at, I really do care, but if you're being stupid about something you should really just grow up and move on. I also never know what to say in times of sadness, this is out of awkwardness rather then lack of sympathy.
21. I love giving and getting hugs.
22. I have a terrible memory when it comes to movies, I know I've seen it but can't tell you what it's about! I'll never forget your name.
23. There is nothing better then having a good bitch.
24.I enjoy dressing well and admire others that do the same. I think taking pride in the clothes you wear and making an effort in this area says a lot about a person.
25. I feel I come across as quite confident and happy go lucky... I am 96.5% of the time happy but I'm not always so confident.
enjoy.
see you in two weeks.
1. Whilst I have low tolerance for some people, I give everyone the benefit of the doubt for at least two weeks. If they cant prove themselves in that amount of time their out.
2. I have a new found fondness for headphones in this city but must turn them off when I walk into shops or am at work.. i think it has to do with confined spaces and headphones.. im scared I'll miss out on something... same goes for those noise cancelling headphones. a definite no no.
3. I am very patient. some might argue that, but I am. I have time for the slow people on the street, I have time for the noisy overbearing people at the table next to us, I have time for slow, inattentive waiters/waitresses, I have time for tourists who stop to take pictures.
4. I don't have time for the beggars, I don't have time for bouncers who let some people in and not others (not that i have never been let in but who do they think they are?!), I don't have time for people who leave their sweat on the machines/floor at the gym.
5. I will always take the revolving door over a normal door if its an option. It's a moment of fun and puts a smile on my face.
6. I work my best under pressure, at the last minute when there's a whole lot to do and no time to do it.
7. I'm a hard worker, I like to be challenged, inspired, busy 110% of the time and enjoy having a lot expected of me. I am extremely motivated when I put my mind to it.
8. I'm an impulse buyer. If I like it I'll buy it. I'm not in to umm and ahh-ing, shopping around or lay-buys. I think its a waste of valuable time. I love shopping for both myself and for/with other people.
9. Like myself, I like people who live for the moment, are spontaneous, don't worry what others think about them too much and don't think too far ahead in the future, what will be will be.
10. I like to feel secure money wise, I always have savings but not necessarily investments.
11. As a kid, and still sometimes today, I get scared by my shadow... seeing it on the bottom of swimming pools I get scared as if it were a shark. stop laughing.
12. In a positive way, I think I am a different person today then I was at school. I credit that to being a part of Betar, my biggest life changing years so far.
13. Whilst I would never wish for a better childhood/upbringing to what I received, I do wish I was exposed to other ways of life, people and religions at a younger age.
14. I dislike people who have everything they could ever wish for and take it for granted.
15. I am funny with wierd textures and food. avocado - out, custard - out, yoghurt - out, uncooked mushrooms - out, fish is out too but that is more to do with the smell (except canned tuna and smoked salmon, I like those).
16. I've never had a close-knit 'circle' of friends...not in Sydney and not in New York. I have a lot of friends in both cities, but all from different 'circles' of friends, sometimes I like it, sometimes I don't.
17. I enjoy being a kid. I enjoy rollercoasters, getting dirty, getting wet, arts and crafts, singing, not so much dancing, running around in a park, general kid-like behaviour.
18. For the amount of exercise I do, I always thought I'd be skinnier.
19. New York has changed me, I now do my washing. I can now cook, mildly. I go to the gym regularly, I can stay awake more hours in a day, I can walk really fast now, identifying my left from my right is improving, I consume more alcoholic beverages with my meals, I understand the importance of leaving a tip, I budget and record everything i spend, and I now READ!
20. I struggle being sympathetic. I give a good hug but I'm really bad at feeling sorry for people and listening to people's woes if the issue is banal and lame. It isn't on purpose and something I'm trying to get better at, I really do care, but if you're being stupid about something you should really just grow up and move on. I also never know what to say in times of sadness, this is out of awkwardness rather then lack of sympathy.
21. I love giving and getting hugs.
22. I have a terrible memory when it comes to movies, I know I've seen it but can't tell you what it's about! I'll never forget your name.
23. There is nothing better then having a good bitch.
24.I enjoy dressing well and admire others that do the same. I think taking pride in the clothes you wear and making an effort in this area says a lot about a person.
25. I feel I come across as quite confident and happy go lucky... I am 96.5% of the time happy but I'm not always so confident.
enjoy.
see you in two weeks.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
the countdown is on...
5 weeks and counting till I come home, so exciting! I am really excited... a holiday at home.. a strange concept but one I'm really looking forward too... I've been counting down for about 10 weeks now and at week 7 I realised I was counting wrong and then had to add another week... but I'm back on track now... I think... and 5 weeks it is! I hope! see you on May 3!
To pass the time is not very difficult in this city, especially when you have visitors in town... the past week i had natalie and jason staying with me and what fun we had! I think I exhausted them to the point of illness, but i still think they had a good time! With two lists, one for attractions and one for foods to be consumed we managed to nearly see the whole city!! A few things i did with them for the first time, which come highly recommended from me now include the water taxi ride around the rivers, bridges and statue of liberty... and a comedy night at the comedy cellar is hard to beat.. i had sore stomach muscles the next day! What else did we do... we celebrated their wedding, marissa style, at sammy's roumanian, drank at my favourite, the back room, had lunch at carnegie deli, went shopping in soho and 5th avenue (my favourite pastime), oh and another cool thing, we did a movie tour to see where all the movies are filmed around new york... was really fun, who new that even my local fire station is the fire station from Ghost Busters! we ate cupcakes at magnolia, hung out in times square, walked around the park, went drinking at dive bars, played on big pianos toy stores, ate candy at candy stores visited ground zero... and did i mention eating?! haha it was great having them around, and as always, my house is open to you all, just come and visit :)
To pass the time is not very difficult in this city, especially when you have visitors in town... the past week i had natalie and jason staying with me and what fun we had! I think I exhausted them to the point of illness, but i still think they had a good time! With two lists, one for attractions and one for foods to be consumed we managed to nearly see the whole city!! A few things i did with them for the first time, which come highly recommended from me now include the water taxi ride around the rivers, bridges and statue of liberty... and a comedy night at the comedy cellar is hard to beat.. i had sore stomach muscles the next day! What else did we do... we celebrated their wedding, marissa style, at sammy's roumanian, drank at my favourite, the back room, had lunch at carnegie deli, went shopping in soho and 5th avenue (my favourite pastime), oh and another cool thing, we did a movie tour to see where all the movies are filmed around new york... was really fun, who new that even my local fire station is the fire station from Ghost Busters! we ate cupcakes at magnolia, hung out in times square, walked around the park, went drinking at dive bars, played on big pianos toy stores, ate candy at candy stores visited ground zero... and did i mention eating?! haha it was great having them around, and as always, my house is open to you all, just come and visit :)
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
The recession we had to have...
How could anyone forget those great Paul Keating ads!!... This is the recession AUSTRALIA had to have... well it seems we're having another one, and noone has felt it harder then in NYC... Honestly, I don't really understand how it happens, the money must be somewhere, right? someone must be hiding it under their floorboards or in there matress... money changes hands all day everyday, how all of the sudden could it just dissappear? (besides into bernie madoff's pockets...) Then the governments around the world creat a 'stimulus package', where do they pull that money from?! does it actually even exist in physical form or does it just get allocated on paper... do they just print more money and throw it in to the mix?? whatever the situation by the looks of it it isnt getting better any time soon...
As I walk to work everyday down Broadway in Soho, a strip of overpriced, expensive yet beautiful, massive (like you've never seen massive, I'm talking shops with escalators...) stores are slowly closing their doors as they are hit by the current 'situation'. People seem to be losing money left right and center... and depression is setting in... Right now I think I have more friends out of work then in work.. people have had their salaries halved, or have been asked to do just 3 days a week work (of course they are still expected to complete 5 days worth...) one friend described her company's process similar to an Australian Idol eviction show... on the Monday the whole company received an email saying that 20% of the company's staff will be fired on the Friday... after spending the whole week sleepless worried what would happen the Friday arrived and each employee was called into an office. Her turn came up, she walks into the room with her two bosses behind the desk (talk about daunting!) 'XX, thanks for coming, please take a seat', 'XX you are NOT fired today... you are safe for another two months!' she started laughing, could you imagine, she said they were so serious, and judge like... anyway it is still terrible, now she has two months of sleepless nights!! The process of firing staff in New York is so clinical... how to they pick who they are going to fire? It's like every company now feels it their right to fire people because everyone else is doing it 'so lets shed half our workforce just cos we can' ... what a great time to get rid of those that are expensive or useless or both...
What just a few months ago would be a big night in the city, dinner, drinks at a variety of bars and maybe a concert, comedy show or cabaret, many of my friends are taking the eat-in approach, I'll meet you at the bar but I'll eat at home... all in an effort to save money... thankfully I have my job... and I'm still having a blast, but I wish everyone else could still be gainfully employed so we can have those fun nights again...
It is strange when you live in another city as an expat, weirdly all your friends are from your home country as you have a connection, they understand where you've come from, they understand how it is for you to live here, it is easier to befriend them and you just connect better then you do with the locals... on the one hand it is great, an immediate social network of friends like yours back home, on the other hand, your new found family of friends is somewhat transient... here for a limited time, working on their own agendas, its great when you hang out together, but the bond you form is so easily broken... they could leave any day... and with our visas in this job market this is more likely sooner rather then later!
wow, what a negative post.
As I walk to work everyday down Broadway in Soho, a strip of overpriced, expensive yet beautiful, massive (like you've never seen massive, I'm talking shops with escalators...) stores are slowly closing their doors as they are hit by the current 'situation'. People seem to be losing money left right and center... and depression is setting in... Right now I think I have more friends out of work then in work.. people have had their salaries halved, or have been asked to do just 3 days a week work (of course they are still expected to complete 5 days worth...) one friend described her company's process similar to an Australian Idol eviction show... on the Monday the whole company received an email saying that 20% of the company's staff will be fired on the Friday... after spending the whole week sleepless worried what would happen the Friday arrived and each employee was called into an office. Her turn came up, she walks into the room with her two bosses behind the desk (talk about daunting!) 'XX, thanks for coming, please take a seat', 'XX you are NOT fired today... you are safe for another two months!' she started laughing, could you imagine, she said they were so serious, and judge like... anyway it is still terrible, now she has two months of sleepless nights!! The process of firing staff in New York is so clinical... how to they pick who they are going to fire? It's like every company now feels it their right to fire people because everyone else is doing it 'so lets shed half our workforce just cos we can' ... what a great time to get rid of those that are expensive or useless or both...
What just a few months ago would be a big night in the city, dinner, drinks at a variety of bars and maybe a concert, comedy show or cabaret, many of my friends are taking the eat-in approach, I'll meet you at the bar but I'll eat at home... all in an effort to save money... thankfully I have my job... and I'm still having a blast, but I wish everyone else could still be gainfully employed so we can have those fun nights again...
It is strange when you live in another city as an expat, weirdly all your friends are from your home country as you have a connection, they understand where you've come from, they understand how it is for you to live here, it is easier to befriend them and you just connect better then you do with the locals... on the one hand it is great, an immediate social network of friends like yours back home, on the other hand, your new found family of friends is somewhat transient... here for a limited time, working on their own agendas, its great when you hang out together, but the bond you form is so easily broken... they could leave any day... and with our visas in this job market this is more likely sooner rather then later!
wow, what a negative post.
Friday, March 13, 2009
im still alive...
So I am so sorry for not writing sooner but let me know if your still reading and want more... not sure if anyone actually still looks at this but I promise to get back in to the groove... I feel I have less to write about these days, I guess its a sign of actually living in this city.. it is no longer still a holiday and new, it is still always exciting, but it is slowly becoming the norm!
So what's been happening... I've seen two concerts in the last week, Tom Jones and Missy Higgins... both great concerts, both unbelievable in their own rights. Tommy may not be a sex bomb anymore... but he thinks he is and i guess that's all that matters! Nudging 70 he sweated under the strong lights and at one stage even flashed his belly... enough enough.. i agree! He still has an unbelievable voice and I enjoyed the spectacle along with the rest of the audience who were probably also nudging 70! Even though everyone in the room including Tom was slightly geriatric, it didnt stop them throwing their underwear all over the stage... I've seen flowers thrown before but never g-strings... I guess it is a remnant from their youth!
Missy was also fantastic, I don't know why I enjoy her performances so much, I guess its the way she communicates with the audience, you just want to be her bestfriend! Anyway it was made even better by our front row positioning... I've never been in the front row of a concert, but its a great interrupted view, and a fence to lean on! So did anyone watch GP in their youth? it was that great medical show, set in a doctors surgery, a GP practice to be precise... anyway there was a girl in the show called vesna?! I think she was the receptionist? anyone remember?! anyway she is now a singer living in LA, Lenka is her real name and she was Missy's supporting act... as soon as she came on I new she looked familiar... and thanks to wikipedia I worked it all out... it was a great night of Aussie singing...
Got Nat and Jason coming to visit next week, cant wait to entertain them in this fab city... and its just 7 weeks till I'm home in another great city, cant wait for that either... :) Just structuring my year of holidays, I'm thinking LA over Independance Day, London over Thanksgiving, home for kathy's wedding in Dec (yayayayayayay) and then to Thailand over christmas and new year! sounds fantastic, let me know if you want to join me anywhere :)
Sending lots of hugs and kisses,
marissa xx.
ps. if you are a new yorker reading this... i went to a new yummy restaraunt last night... Absinthe.. 1st ave at 7th st... check it out!
So what's been happening... I've seen two concerts in the last week, Tom Jones and Missy Higgins... both great concerts, both unbelievable in their own rights. Tommy may not be a sex bomb anymore... but he thinks he is and i guess that's all that matters! Nudging 70 he sweated under the strong lights and at one stage even flashed his belly... enough enough.. i agree! He still has an unbelievable voice and I enjoyed the spectacle along with the rest of the audience who were probably also nudging 70! Even though everyone in the room including Tom was slightly geriatric, it didnt stop them throwing their underwear all over the stage... I've seen flowers thrown before but never g-strings... I guess it is a remnant from their youth!
Missy was also fantastic, I don't know why I enjoy her performances so much, I guess its the way she communicates with the audience, you just want to be her bestfriend! Anyway it was made even better by our front row positioning... I've never been in the front row of a concert, but its a great interrupted view, and a fence to lean on! So did anyone watch GP in their youth? it was that great medical show, set in a doctors surgery, a GP practice to be precise... anyway there was a girl in the show called vesna?! I think she was the receptionist? anyone remember?! anyway she is now a singer living in LA, Lenka is her real name and she was Missy's supporting act... as soon as she came on I new she looked familiar... and thanks to wikipedia I worked it all out... it was a great night of Aussie singing...
Got Nat and Jason coming to visit next week, cant wait to entertain them in this fab city... and its just 7 weeks till I'm home in another great city, cant wait for that either... :) Just structuring my year of holidays, I'm thinking LA over Independance Day, London over Thanksgiving, home for kathy's wedding in Dec (yayayayayayay) and then to Thailand over christmas and new year! sounds fantastic, let me know if you want to join me anywhere :)
Sending lots of hugs and kisses,
marissa xx.
ps. if you are a new yorker reading this... i went to a new yummy restaraunt last night... Absinthe.. 1st ave at 7th st... check it out!
Friday, February 6, 2009
Skiing NY!
The American, The Norwegian, The Englishman, The Italian and the Australian went up a mountain.... and came back relatively unscathed... last weekend I ventured up north with some friends from work to go skiing at Windham Mountain. Situated in the Catskills Mountain ranges we hired a car, did a grocery shop and drove 3 or so hours to a chalet owned by one of the guys. We spent two days on the slopes (read: two days with my heart in my throat as I hurtled down icy runs), but I think by the end I had made some improvement!... my bruised knee might argue that fact but really it was a lot of fun.
What suprised me though was the 'boringness' of the atmosphere on the mountain... in Australia when you go skiing, the runs are interesting (ie. they go through trees, there's hills and so on), there's music all over the mountain, there's restaraunt huts at the bottom of runs, there's comraderie between the skiers, and there are heaps of little kids in crazy head-dress helmets... but here it was no mucking around, there's a mountain, there's snow on it, there's one restaraunt at the bottom, the runs go straight up and down, the kids there are serious... no mucking around with dress ups... its more of a regular activity. My conclusion was that for the average american up on the mountain, its just what they do as weekend sport, just like they would play tennis or basketball in the summer.. there is nothing exciting about it for them... with so much snow around throughout winter year after year I guess the novelty has just worn off!
Nonetheless, our bunch of multicultural nearly non-Americans, had a great time, jumping off ramps into airbags (not me) sliding down mountains on bottoms (me) and general skiing for 6 hours each day... It was great getting to spend time with my colleagues, people I hardly new... put me out of my comfort zone which i like every now and then... we all got on great, cooked some wonderful meals, mixed it up with the locals and enjoyed the freezing weather!
Looking forward to heading up there again, hopefully before the winter is out... then I might become a real pro!
What suprised me though was the 'boringness' of the atmosphere on the mountain... in Australia when you go skiing, the runs are interesting (ie. they go through trees, there's hills and so on), there's music all over the mountain, there's restaraunt huts at the bottom of runs, there's comraderie between the skiers, and there are heaps of little kids in crazy head-dress helmets... but here it was no mucking around, there's a mountain, there's snow on it, there's one restaraunt at the bottom, the runs go straight up and down, the kids there are serious... no mucking around with dress ups... its more of a regular activity. My conclusion was that for the average american up on the mountain, its just what they do as weekend sport, just like they would play tennis or basketball in the summer.. there is nothing exciting about it for them... with so much snow around throughout winter year after year I guess the novelty has just worn off!
Nonetheless, our bunch of multicultural nearly non-Americans, had a great time, jumping off ramps into airbags (not me) sliding down mountains on bottoms (me) and general skiing for 6 hours each day... It was great getting to spend time with my colleagues, people I hardly new... put me out of my comfort zone which i like every now and then... we all got on great, cooked some wonderful meals, mixed it up with the locals and enjoyed the freezing weather!
Looking forward to heading up there again, hopefully before the winter is out... then I might become a real pro!
FuerzaBruta
If you ever get the chance go see it! I recently saw this show, Fuerza Bruta, http://www.fuerzabrutanyc.com, arguably one of the best shows I've ever seen!... I know, I know, that's a big call... maybe its just the first time I've been to a show with that much audience participation, immersiveness and randomness... squashed into a not so large theatre with about 400 others into the dark, the ushers herded you around to different parts of the room like sheep whilst around us performers harnessed to the hilt sprawled around above our heads, swinging from every corner possible, crashing through walls, splashing through a massive glass bottom swimming pool as it lowered to about an inch from our noses, acrobatics, a house sized treadmill, bright lights, sprays from a giant water hose, thousands of pieces of paper blown all over you like snow from the sky, loud music, theatre like I've never seen, who could ask for anything more!
.... very new york.
disclaimer: don't see it if you don't like strobe, getting wet, standing, and the ocassional feeling of claustraphobia. this post does it no justice. go see it!
.... very new york.
disclaimer: don't see it if you don't like strobe, getting wet, standing, and the ocassional feeling of claustraphobia. this post does it no justice. go see it!
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Patriotism
.... I think it always happens when you are away from home on a national holiday... in this case it was Australia Day... which for me ended up being Australia 3 Days. Nonetheless I pranced around the streets of NY in my newly ebay purchased Australia vintage tee and ugg boots, and basked in the fact that everyone in this city loves a good Aussie.
The weekend started with a lovely dinner at an Italian restaurant in the village with about 16 aussies and a few wannabe american-aussies... ok it was Italian food but I was in the right company... the evening ended with a few Coopers down the road and was much like any other night out... Sunday my friend Rachel had a Australia Day Barbeque...as best she could she turned her cosy studio apartment into a day at the beach... yes the -4 degrees outside kind of hampered this, but decked out in aussie shorts, bikini and covered in aussie tattoos she had snags, vegemite, tim tams, pavlova, and chocolate crackles!! amazing... i dont think I've had crackles since my 6th birthday party... and they tasted exactly the same... such memories! a taste I don't think any aussie kid can ever forget...
Sunday night, still on the Australia Day Weekend bandwagon I headed out to Williamsburg where Orly had organised a night of Australian singers... sponsored by Coopers we donned Coopers hats, t-shirts and other paraphanalia and hung out listening to a bunch of aussies strut there stuff on the stage...
Monday morning (actual Australia Day) I headed to work having passed by the Tuckshop (an aussie meat pies hole in the wall) only to find they had run out of lamingtons (I know how could this be!) and then arrived at work, slightly under the weather still sporting my aussie tattoos, albeit slightly rubbed off... by this time actually a bit over australia day. Not wanting to do much by this stage, monday night a few friends and i headed to the Sunburnt Cow, an aussie bar near my place... heading in and faced with the horrible smell of stale beer our visited lasted all of 30 seconds before we decided to head to a burger joint down the street, transforming their burgers on the menu into traditional aussie style... what a fitting way to end the celebrations.
Until next year my australians!
The weekend started with a lovely dinner at an Italian restaurant in the village with about 16 aussies and a few wannabe american-aussies... ok it was Italian food but I was in the right company... the evening ended with a few Coopers down the road and was much like any other night out... Sunday my friend Rachel had a Australia Day Barbeque...as best she could she turned her cosy studio apartment into a day at the beach... yes the -4 degrees outside kind of hampered this, but decked out in aussie shorts, bikini and covered in aussie tattoos she had snags, vegemite, tim tams, pavlova, and chocolate crackles!! amazing... i dont think I've had crackles since my 6th birthday party... and they tasted exactly the same... such memories! a taste I don't think any aussie kid can ever forget...
Sunday night, still on the Australia Day Weekend bandwagon I headed out to Williamsburg where Orly had organised a night of Australian singers... sponsored by Coopers we donned Coopers hats, t-shirts and other paraphanalia and hung out listening to a bunch of aussies strut there stuff on the stage...
Monday morning (actual Australia Day) I headed to work having passed by the Tuckshop (an aussie meat pies hole in the wall) only to find they had run out of lamingtons (I know how could this be!) and then arrived at work, slightly under the weather still sporting my aussie tattoos, albeit slightly rubbed off... by this time actually a bit over australia day. Not wanting to do much by this stage, monday night a few friends and i headed to the Sunburnt Cow, an aussie bar near my place... heading in and faced with the horrible smell of stale beer our visited lasted all of 30 seconds before we decided to head to a burger joint down the street, transforming their burgers on the menu into traditional aussie style... what a fitting way to end the celebrations.
Until next year my australians!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
happy new year!
So its 2009. I've only just realised. A few weeks to late but yes, its here and its time to get into gear. I've never had a new years resolution and this year I've got 6. I'm not going to write them here because: a. fear of not completing them all and b. some of them are private, but nonetheless if you want to know, just get in touch... now there's incentive! I've written them down, next I'll plan their roll out... so organised of me!
I'm excited for the next 12 months! Im having an amazing time over here, and there's a world of opportunity at my feet... let's see how far I get!
For all of you, my friends, I wish only the best for you all in the next 12 months, with new jobs, new babies, new wives, new husbands, new friends, new homes, it looks like a great year ahead for all of us.
keep in touch and keep safe,
m xx.
I'm excited for the next 12 months! Im having an amazing time over here, and there's a world of opportunity at my feet... let's see how far I get!
For all of you, my friends, I wish only the best for you all in the next 12 months, with new jobs, new babies, new wives, new husbands, new friends, new homes, it looks like a great year ahead for all of us.
keep in touch and keep safe,
m xx.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
62 days of fun!
So it has finally come to an end... 62 days straight of shopping, partying, drinking, touring, travelling, walking.. ok i've run out of adjectives... but i did have an unreal time with all my visitors over the past 2 months...the feeling i got seeing your familiar faces hike up the stairs to my apartment when you first got here made me sooo excited! I know it sounds cheesy but when your so far away from home, its a great feeling...
I managed to get two weeks holidays whilst trent and amy were here, it was like I got to be on holiday in NY which was awesome! ... not so awesome for my bank account... Despite the weather being freezing, we doned our winter woolies and hiked up and down every street in manhattan (well almost)! Early on in the piece we put together a calendar of all events and places we wanted to go, complete with morning, afternoon and evening slots, and pink post it notes for outings which were 'movable' or 'weather dependant... we sound like such dorks!... all trent's idea.. haha, but it was good, we had a bit of structure, even if we didnt stick to it.. but it made us look forward to things and plan our busy social lives! We managed to pack in heaps...got a taste of the manhattan jewish singles scene in a lavish evening which sprawled across 5 chelsea nightclubs, hummers, stretch limo's, sleazy men, brian, i tell you the night had it all... except class! but we all managed to have a great time... We spent New Years at Bryant Park, saw the sites from Top of The Rock, made our very own nike's... very cool.., meandered through markets, shopped, pub crawled around town, dined at the finest places like johnny rockets, went to christmas parties, channukah parties, listened to friends sing, shopped, saw the kids from the actual school of rock perform, rode mechanical bulls, travelled by horse drawn carriage around central park, drank milkshakes, shopped, saw lady liberty, went to ground zero, saw stomp, cured my shopping addiction with a 10 hour shopping spree at woodbury common, the discount shopping mecca of the world... (after shopping there you'll never want to step foot in a shop again!) Wow we managed to fit in so much and thats just the half of it, all in all i think we all had a great time together...
You're all gone now and it's almost hard to know what to do with myself, live life I guess! Back on the NY rollercoaster that is reality over here... 4 nights of shows, theatres and musicals lined up this week... sounds like a difficult life but someone has to do it...
Amy, good luck in London babe, don't know when I'll see you again next which is weird, but you'll have an unbeleivable time...
So whose up next? my spare bed is waiting!
I managed to get two weeks holidays whilst trent and amy were here, it was like I got to be on holiday in NY which was awesome! ... not so awesome for my bank account... Despite the weather being freezing, we doned our winter woolies and hiked up and down every street in manhattan (well almost)! Early on in the piece we put together a calendar of all events and places we wanted to go, complete with morning, afternoon and evening slots, and pink post it notes for outings which were 'movable' or 'weather dependant... we sound like such dorks!... all trent's idea.. haha, but it was good, we had a bit of structure, even if we didnt stick to it.. but it made us look forward to things and plan our busy social lives! We managed to pack in heaps...got a taste of the manhattan jewish singles scene in a lavish evening which sprawled across 5 chelsea nightclubs, hummers, stretch limo's, sleazy men, brian, i tell you the night had it all... except class! but we all managed to have a great time... We spent New Years at Bryant Park, saw the sites from Top of The Rock, made our very own nike's... very cool.., meandered through markets, shopped, pub crawled around town, dined at the finest places like johnny rockets, went to christmas parties, channukah parties, listened to friends sing, shopped, saw the kids from the actual school of rock perform, rode mechanical bulls, travelled by horse drawn carriage around central park, drank milkshakes, shopped, saw lady liberty, went to ground zero, saw stomp, cured my shopping addiction with a 10 hour shopping spree at woodbury common, the discount shopping mecca of the world... (after shopping there you'll never want to step foot in a shop again!) Wow we managed to fit in so much and thats just the half of it, all in all i think we all had a great time together...
You're all gone now and it's almost hard to know what to do with myself, live life I guess! Back on the NY rollercoaster that is reality over here... 4 nights of shows, theatres and musicals lined up this week... sounds like a difficult life but someone has to do it...
Amy, good luck in London babe, don't know when I'll see you again next which is weird, but you'll have an unbeleivable time...
So whose up next? my spare bed is waiting!
Friday, January 9, 2009
First Snow of the Season
Arghh just realised i havent written for over a month... shame on me! But to my defense, most of you who read my blog have been here preoccupying my time so i should be let off the hook... here's my first story of many from the past month and its about something quite new to me... snow...
Yes its winter in new york, and unlike the 10 - 15 degrees it may get to in sydney, here in new york the temperature over the past month has fluctuated from about 3 degrees to -3 .... a lovely range... ive learnt that rain means a warm day and a blue sky means freezing... strange how that is, but its true. Its amazing how easy you acclimatise to different situations, 3 degrees is kinda warm when your living in -3 most days!
So coming from Sydney where the only snow we see is on a small patch of hill down south and even then it rarely falls from the sky... you could imagine my excitement when the first snow fell in new york this year. It was a saturday night in early december and the social butterfly that i am, i had two arrangements on that night, one not to far from my home and the other on the upper east side. So i left the first party and jumped on the subway heading up town. Due to my mild dislexia i jumped off the train at 72nd street only to realise i was supposed to be at 82nd street. On a normal night this would have been fine, a bit of excercise never goes astray, but as i exited the subway station i felt drops of something on my face, i look up and its snowing! it was really magical... i was alone on the quiet streets of the upper east side, walking as fluffy drops of snow fell all around me.. so how was i supposed to get ten blocks away in the snow... i walked... it was kind of like a little bit of fate... it was such a beautiful time that if i had stayed on the train an extra stop i would have missed! I had no umbrella (not that they really work in the snow as it floats sideways) and no hood on my jacket, but off i trudged past the men selling christmas trees on the side of the road, and the old ladies squabbling back to there majestic upper east side homes, trying to dodge snow falling on their fur coats... it was really one of the nicest nights in the city so far. So I finally got to the second event, totally wet from snow, but having experienced a great feeling getting there.... sadly the next day i had a lovely cough, sneeze and runny nose from getting so wet but it was worth it :)
Yes its winter in new york, and unlike the 10 - 15 degrees it may get to in sydney, here in new york the temperature over the past month has fluctuated from about 3 degrees to -3 .... a lovely range... ive learnt that rain means a warm day and a blue sky means freezing... strange how that is, but its true. Its amazing how easy you acclimatise to different situations, 3 degrees is kinda warm when your living in -3 most days!
So coming from Sydney where the only snow we see is on a small patch of hill down south and even then it rarely falls from the sky... you could imagine my excitement when the first snow fell in new york this year. It was a saturday night in early december and the social butterfly that i am, i had two arrangements on that night, one not to far from my home and the other on the upper east side. So i left the first party and jumped on the subway heading up town. Due to my mild dislexia i jumped off the train at 72nd street only to realise i was supposed to be at 82nd street. On a normal night this would have been fine, a bit of excercise never goes astray, but as i exited the subway station i felt drops of something on my face, i look up and its snowing! it was really magical... i was alone on the quiet streets of the upper east side, walking as fluffy drops of snow fell all around me.. so how was i supposed to get ten blocks away in the snow... i walked... it was kind of like a little bit of fate... it was such a beautiful time that if i had stayed on the train an extra stop i would have missed! I had no umbrella (not that they really work in the snow as it floats sideways) and no hood on my jacket, but off i trudged past the men selling christmas trees on the side of the road, and the old ladies squabbling back to there majestic upper east side homes, trying to dodge snow falling on their fur coats... it was really one of the nicest nights in the city so far. So I finally got to the second event, totally wet from snow, but having experienced a great feeling getting there.... sadly the next day i had a lovely cough, sneeze and runny nose from getting so wet but it was worth it :)
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