Her smiles, her frowns...

Hey. I missed you, blog.

So much has happened since I last saw you in November of 2013... ebola, a new royal baby, and so on. My loved ones have been through a lot: Grandpa turned 90, mom lost her best friend, my brother found the love of his life... my friends have suffered huge losses but also reached the highest highs. Breakups, weddings, babies, moving across the country, moving back home, new jobs, new haircuts. I've reconnected with people I never thought I'd be close to again, and met people that have nestled themselves so snugly into the fabric of my life (probably a sensible cotton, if you're wondering) that I don't think I could pull them out if I tried!

Me? I don't know how I can put into words the last year and a half. I won't give you the whole "I'm not the same person," because I am.  Just chiseled away. Pretty much the same size on the outside, but the intangibles have changed. I'd like to think this city has taught me how to thicken the shell and soften the core. Let people on the street cry if they need to. Don't let someone get onto your subway car without letting you off first. Give the homeless guy your protein bar. Stand up to your landlord when you know something's unfair. Find the quiet in all the noise. Nowadays, I'm quicker to irritation but also quicker to empathy than I used to be. I never feel completely alone, not if I don't want to be.

It wasn't always easy, though. They said the first six months are the hardest, right? RIGHT RIGHT RIGHT. Too right. Painfully right. I had no idea how right. So glad I'm through that time... maybe I'll write more about it later, but basically I suffered from depression for the first time in my life during my first winter here. It was a challenge I never planned on facing, and I'm so grateful it's over. My heart goes out to everyone who has to see life through that murkiness every day.

Anyway, I was going to write something chipper, but that clearly didn't happen. Welcome back to the blogging world, me! Back for round 347.

-mm

Spook-fest 2013

I wish parents could still be in charge of costumes. Back in the day, you just decided what you would be, and they made it happen. Now we have to be all independent and put it together ourselves, which mostly leads to pun-ny ways of making whatever outfit you happen to be wearing on Halloween work as a costume.

"I'm Manti Te'o's girlfriend!"

"I'm a pedestrian!"

"I'm a Terminator robot-version of myself!"

"I'm a lottery winner!"

"I'm a passenger on the Oceanic flight from LOST!"

For example.

So I wanted to write about my birthday - my first one outside of Michigan! Lots of love and cards and Facebook posts, which were wonderful. I celebrated by sleeping in (as is my usual custom for any holiday), getting my free Starbucks drink and trying to make it the most expensive thing I can think of (venti chai latte with soy milk and a shot of sugar-free vanilla... seriously), and going to dinner and drinks with my friends! We went to Jacob's Pickles, which turns out to be one of the best restaurants I've ever ever been to. Think soul food, but with a lot more pickles. Had a great time celebrating with everyone.

Also, I received a loaf of my favorite Zingerman's bread and my favorite Cherry Republic salsa from my Michigan contingency. I cried a little bit and then actually bit into the loaf.

A proud moment: Was so hungry between getting groceries at Trader Joe's and getting on the subway that I tore into a package of Maple Leaf cookies I got (they're sooo good, BTW), and put one in my mouth and two in my POCKET for the subway ride. Cookies in my pocket. Because I just couldn't wait.

Another proud moment: this is actually super embarrassing, but I have trouble remembering/knowing what day Christmas is. I don't know if it's because it always fell in the middle of a break or because the media has constant countdowns for it so I didn't really have to keep track, or if I got thrown off because there's an Eve and a Day?

There's really no excuse. I know. But we went over it several times and I put it into my phone, so I think I've got it now!




So let's talk about the new job. It's going well and I'm assisting my boss on the two new productions that are opening: La Soiree and The Nutcracker. Both are for ages 16+. Yes, even The Nutcracker. Because it's an EROTIC NUTCRACKER. Anyway, Ticketmaster is a lot different than what I'm used to and it's still tricky at times, and I'm having difficulty with even the easiest things (like opening a safe), but it's going to get better from here! I hope!

Also, I got a bill from Comcast yesterday. You know, the cable provider I used in Ann Arbor. The account I closed on August 4th. I got a $150 bill from them for "Services rendered prior to disconnection." So HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO ME I GUESS.


Have a fantastic, spooktacular, and sassy Halloween! 

It's Late October and You KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS...

IT'S ALMOST HALLOWEEN!!!!!!

So I've always had a very special place in my heart for the cheesiest, campy-est, most dramatic holiday of all - HALLOWEEN Y'ALL. Why?

• Takes place during everyone's favorite season! Also, please don't even tell me your favorite season is autumn, because I'm just gonna start automatically assuming it's everyone's favorite season. If your favorite season is anything but autumn, I wanna know. But saying your favorite season is autumn is like saying "I'm most comfortable in sweatpants" or "All I wanna do is sit at home and eat chips." THESE ARE UNIVERSAL TRUTHS. Back to the list...
• Everyone HAS TO BE CREATIVE or they can't participate. Even a cop-out, last-minute costume has to at least have a creative explanation as to what it is! I plan to be a sexy ghost (buy a cheap bikini and put it over a cheap sheet that I have cut eye and mouth holes into. BOOM.) I also haven't started said costume and probably won't for a while. I may reprise my freshman year of college costume and go as sleeping beauty (just wear your pajamas and lots of makeup!)
• It combines my two favorite things: candy and dress-up. Even if this did involve shoving your coat-and-warm-pants-covered body into your costume when you were little.
• I like the spooky decorations and scary movies. Side note - did you know that one of the main questions that quite accurately determines compatibility on OKCupid is whether or not you and your potential significant other person like scary movies? Isn't that crazy?
• If Halloween is coming, it means my birthday is coming!

PART 2: My Impending Birthday

• First birthday away from home
• First birthday in my new city
• My GOLDEN BIRTHDAY
• Will be fun. Going to a restaurant with Pickles in the title, so I'm gonna eat a lot of those and drink pretty much everything in sight because 26 is officially the last year of your mid-twenties, right?  Just so we're all on the same page...
• 20-23 = Early 20s
• 24-26 = Mid 20s
• 27-29 = Late 20s

PART 3: New Job 

  

I have a job here, which makes it really feel like I live here now instead of visiting. I work for a theater company that includes the box offices of STOMP,  La Soiree (a new circus/acrobatic show opening soon), and seasonally, an "erotic" production of The Nutcracker suitable for ages 16 and up! Let's pause a moment and feel a little pre-emptive pang of sympathy for me as I explain to enraged parents with 8-year-olds in tow that this is not a production for kids. Can't wait!

The job is great - lots to remember, but it's mostly ticketing stuff I've done before, just a different way. The software for Ticketmaster is A DINOSAUR compared to other ones I've used - it's literally a black screen with white letters/code on it. There's no interactive calendar or seat map or anything. I feel like I've time-travelled back to 1992! BUT the most important part is that my co-workers are amazing and we clicked instantly. They're all really cool, which is crucial when you're in a teeny box office with them for hours every day.

The downside of the new job is that because of the heavy volume of performances in November and December, I won't be able to come home at all for Thanksgiving and only for a few days at Christmas. This is a huge blow, but I am getting a little more comfortable with the idea every day. Don't really have a choice, right? And hey, if I have to take myself out to a fantastic dinner on Thanksgiving, so be it!

PART 4: Dating?!?!?!?

So I was determined not to join an on-line dating site until I was gainfully employed - didn't want to be listed as "unemployed" and didn't want to waste job-applying energy on making a flawless dating profile. I have since re-joined OKCupid and joined one called Tinder, which I'm told is HOT here. (Get it?) So far, Tinder is definitely more fun! We'll see what happens! Stay tuned I guess...

PART 5: Validation

Despite the no-holidays-at-home-with-your-family thing, I know I am in the right place. Auditions are all over the place, as are amazing performances! I've seen 3 operas, 2 plays and 1 musical (321!!) since I've arrived... and 2 movies. Do those count? The movie theater on the Upper West Side (UWS) is INCREDIBLE - huge leather recliners and you choose your seat when you buy your ticket. 

There are definitely other less wonderful parts:

• Trash literally flies at you. No way to avoid it on a windy day, you're gonna get smacked by trash. Just hope that it doesn't go in your face I guess.
• COCKTAILS ARE EXPENSIVE. I payed like $17 for a SINGLE DRINK. It was delicious, but only because it was flavored with my tears from crying over the price.
• I experienced my first morning rush-hour train commute. I almost didn't survive. Never again if I can help it. I'd rather die. Or walk. Or anything.
• BLISTERS. Discussed in my previous entry that I can't wear heels, but in breaking in my new flats, they ate my heels. Poor feet!

But to end on a happy note, I found my favorite amazing brand of gummy bear here at Zabar's! And Michigan won last week! And I love my gym! And I live in NYC.

XOXO

-"Manhattan Mary" (As my Aunt Mary calls me. And only she is allowed to call me that.)

New Places and Old Places, Family, and Some Pretty Great News

New Places: I had to go to the Bronx today because that's where our local UPS pick-up location is. It involved two subways (one that spits you out with a lovely view of Yankee Stadium, so that was kinda cool), and a creepy walk down a deserted shipping area. This was the most scared I was to go anywhere, but it turns out da Bronx is just like any other borough - can be sketchy at times, but at the end of the day, people still give up their seat for the pregnant and/or old women and generally leave you alone.

Although I still maintain that I should just plan on getting mugged and if/when it does happen, I just hope I'm not carrying a fav purse. And that they don't steal my shoes à la Carrie Bradshaw.

Old Places: This week, I went to Chicago to audition for the Santa Fe Opera Young Artist Program. I was happy to receive an audition from them, and even happier to stay with my friends Justin, Paige, and Nick. Their apartment is a freaking PENTHOUSE compared to mine, and is gorgeous. I think the things I'm most jealous of are their in-unit washer/dryer and beautiful sunlight that comes into their apartment.

BUT... at the end of the day, I'll take what I've got. Alley cat view and all.

Anyway, back to Chicago. I had such an incredible time on Tuesday catching up with them as well as Nathan, Steven, and Isabel. I have such a wonderful support system and also they're all extremely hilarious and attractive. It was fun to be reminded of that.

Family: Deborah got engaged! We were FINALLY able to catch up and celebrate Wednesday night at  my new favorite restaurant called Westville. Yummy, yummy, yummy!

On Sunday, Kristen and Katie drove through town and we saw Romeo and Juliet. Sorry... we saw Orlando Bloom. From the front row. He is every bit as scrumptious in person as you might imagine. Fun night walking around the city with them!

And now... some PRETTY GREAT NEWS
I GOT A JOB!!!!!!  A DOLLA MAKE ME HOLLA HONEY BOO BOO. Honestly though, I couldn't have a better job if I had invented it myself. My official position is Assistant Box Office Manager... or possibly Assistant TO THE Box Office Manager (The Office, anyone?)
 I'll be working 30 hours a week (with a flexible schedule!!!) for Union Square Theaters. They run several different shows, one of which is STOMP. I'm told that's the theater I'll most likely be working at. I loved selling tickets with UMS, and I am excited to take that further here in NYC! Also, the fact that the hours are flexible is crucial to my audition schedule, which is thankfully filling up!

This week I also put together the LAST pieces of Ikea furniture. Except for wall stuff, our apartment is COMPLETE!!! Feels great.

Also, my birthday is coming up. First one away from home, and my GOLDEN BIRTHDAY. 26 on the 26th. Still no clue what exciting, fabulous thing I'm going to do. Maybe order a pizza. Seems like a fitting way to welcome your late-twenties. Suggestions welcome!

What I've Learned So Far

Who doesn't love lists? I spend way more time than I should looking at pointless lists on BuzzFeed. I feel like half the fun is going, "Yeah, I totally feel the same way! So glad someone else out there UNDERSTANDS ME." So here's a list of things I've learned so far in NYC. (I'm hoping this will also encompass the fact that I haven't posted in, oh, a month. Happy, Elise Howe?)

• NYC is just about 500 miles from Detroit, MI. So if I'm ever homesick, I always think about the song "I Would Walk 500 Miles" by those Scottish guys. And then I at least forget that I'm homesick.
• I brought a lot of the wrong stuff. I had to get rid of a ton of furniture and get a bunch of new pairs of shoes. And I'll probably also need a new coat. But back to the shoes...
• You either wear heels every day and get over the pain, or you should never, ever wear them. I've learned this the hard way. Flats for this gal.
• Lots of people on a small island = actually seeing people you know. More than I ever anticipated, I see people I know all over the place! It's crazy. Knowing people in my community was something I was really gonna miss from home, but it's cool that it's happening here, too! Which leads me to...
• No matter how great your sense of direction is, you will get turned around. And lost. Just today, my friend Emily and I walked in circles for a solid 15 minutes trying to find a Chipotle. It's super frustrating, super humbling, and also super funny if you think about the fact that we circled a Chipotle.
• You're either 15 minutes late or 15 minutes early to everything. Because I don't have a car and mostly run errands in places that aren't walking distance, I'm dependent on my sense of direction and the subway. Because I only trust myself 60% of the time and the subway 15% of the time, I usually end up leaving waaay to much time. It's so hard to arrive somewhere right on time!
• People here say "on line" instead of "in line." If I had a nickel for every time I was standing in a queue and someone said "NEXT ON LINE" and I wondered who would be rudely on the internet and not paying attention while waiting in line, I'd probably have at least two dollars.
• My phone dies. A lot. Battery shmattery. It dies pretty much every day. I just always hope I beat it home.
• Finding a job can be hard. How difficult should it be to find a part-time job that isn't in retail, a restaurant, or babysitting? Like a nice ticket office job? Oh, there's a UNION FOR TICKET SALES? Right. How about a secretary administrative assistant? Right, those are all full-time. So even though my Masters degree isn't pulling as much weight as I hoped it would...
• There is inspiration and opportunity EVERYWHERE. SOOO many chances to network and reach out to people, and everyone has been super friendly and obliging. My friend Emily got me into the incredible Joyce DiDonato masterclass at Juilliard today, I've seen Eugene Onegin (which is completely sold out) and The Nose with friends for free, and saw the amazing Patina Miller in Pippin from the second row. So many people have offered to forward my resume to what ever connections they have. I have lots of auditions lined up and two interviews next week for jobs. Even the architecture is inspiring!
• The only thing I miss about cable so far is HGTV... and Here Comes Honey Boo Boo. And Long Island Medium. But that's it! I've definitely filled up on LOST, Orange is the New Black, and the last season of The Office. And I may or may not be watching Hercules... right now. 
• Having company is more tiring than you might think. We had the pleasure of having our friend Emily and her boyfriend (who is also now our friend too!) Jonathan over for a few days. It was so wonderful to have them and catch up, but I realized how much more you're out and about when you have company there. And I'm used to showing off whatever city I live in - I realized I don't have to do that. NYC shows itself off. The other thing is...
• I'm starting to be able to identify tourists simply by where they stop on the sidewalk and their walking pace. Chances are, they stop right in the middle of the sidewalk to check their phone or tie their shoe or whatever instead of "pulling over" to the side of the... sidewalk like most true city folk do. They also walk very slowly because they're taking it all in, which I can totally relate to. But if they're wearing heels and walking slowly, they're probably just making a footware mistake WHICH I CAN TOTALLY RELATE TO.
• It's never boring and there is always someone to hang out with. It's a little different because I'm used to having people over to my home, and mostly here you go out with people and spend less time in their actual apartments. For me, this is a space/commute issue. Just takes some getting used to (and is more expensive!) 
• Errand running takes careful planning and a lot more time. You have to plan a subway/bus route. You have to make sure you go to the grocery store last because you'll carry the most from there. You have to really plan it out, like a scavenger hunt or a vacation or something cool but it's actually just that I need post-its.
• I'm super grateful for my friends who know the city really well... and for those who don't. My friends who have been here for a few years are always reassuring and tell me that whatever I'm going through is normal and will pass (probably). My friends who moved here when I did get secretly excited with me when we walk by the Chrysler Building at night and get really nerded out that we actually live here.
• Through it all, I know moving here was the right choice. 

Well, here we are!

So, I was very much opposed to blogging about moving to NYC, because millions of people do it every year and don't need to talk about it!

BUT. I always enjoyed reading Lizzie (and Lizzy's) posts when they were away (even though they were in sweet places like Vietnam and Ghana), so I'm going to give it a shot.

Because even though blogging may be trite, keeping in touch with friends and family is NOT! Am I right?

Today marks the beginning of Day 6 here in the Big Apple. So far, I haven't really done anything terribly exciting, but lemme break it down for you:

• Day 1: Mom, Dad, and I arrive in a reliable Penske truck and get very lucky with parking. Truthfully, the minute I walked into my apartment, my heart SANK. The rental company said my room would be 11X13 and have a closet. It was/had neither. While this wouldn't be a problem, we brought furniture to fill a room that size. Because of that, some stuff got kicked to the curb. I was so incredibly thankful to have my friends Elise and Mike helping us - we couldn't have done it without them, and they brought a calming, happy presence to an otherwise stressful move. And sweaty. It was extremely sweaty. So much that we booked a room in Astoria to stay in because we wanted AC and there would have been no where for me to sleep except le floor. Also worth noting: today we went to a place called Dinosaur BBQ for dinner. I found NYC's Slows! SO GOOD.
• Day 2: Started off with a rousing trip to the Brooklyn Ikea for a wardrobe (remember, there was no closet! Surprise!). We got there early, and lined up with about 40 other people to be doorbusters. It kind of felt like a race... that we obviously won. I drove all around the city, and the highways on the sides of the island aren't so bad. It's when you get off of them into the city that you want to cry. Mom and Dad were kind enough to help me set up the place the rest of the day, and then the three of us plus Nico (my new roommate!) went to a great little Mexican place around the corner. Then I said a (teary!) goodbye to my parents, and spent my first night in the new apt!
• Day 3: I needed to explore my new neighborhood, and it had cooled off (slightly), so I went to Riverbank Park. It seemed like an abandoned amusement park. It had great views of the Hudson River, but creeped me out because it seemed so deserted. Then I realized it was the Tuesday after Labor Day, and most kids were back to school - of course not many people were there! I also walked along RiverSIDE Park - turns out, they're different things! - and back through my neighborhood. So far, it seems like I'm definitely in a lower-income area, but I never really felt threatened. Most people are just going about their own business. There are also a tonnnn of kids and families, which makes me feel better. And a lot of Spanish. I'm gonna be Mary from the Block. Or Maria Maria growin up in Spanish Harlem... etc. You get it. THEN Kelly came over and we drank my fancy bottle of wine that I've been saving for YEARS at her place! Kelly and I have been friends for years, and it's so exciting to finally be living in the same place as her! ALSO - Nico and I found the cutest coffee shop in our neighborhood - The Chipped Cup. Love.
• Day 4: Went to the Union Square Farmers Market and Chelsea Market with Elise! I'm obsessed with the Chelsea Market. We had a beautiful day for both of them - the Farmers Market had a ton of gorgeous produce, albeit overpriced (who's surprised?). Couldn't resist picking up a few things, though! One booth that baffled me was that the guy who sells local honey had it broken down by neighborhood - TriBeCa, Midtown, Hell's Kitchen, West Village, Chelsea, etc etc. That's nuts! Then, Elise and I schlepped our stuff to Chelsea Market - I. love. this. place. Elise said she and Michael bring all of their out-of-town guests there, and I can see why. Tons of cute little places to eat and shop, not to mention a huuuuge Anthro. Loved it!
• Day 5: As I'm starting to realize that hauling tons of stuff through the subway system is a lot different than loading and unloading it from your car, I guess I really felt the need to solidify that opinion today. How? By going to DSW, Zabar's (a Zingerman's-like deli), and Trader Joe's. All in one fell swoop. Of course, DSW wasn't in the plan, but I have to pretty much rehaul my shoe "repertoire," as Elise called it. Got a beautiful pair of boots! Then, Zabar's. I had heard of Zabar's, and really wanted to go in. It didn't disappoint! Got some fantastic olives and an awesome chai latte, among other things. Prices weren't too bad either! THEN - Trader Joe's. I had heard how crowded it could be, and it was. But what really baffled me was the fact that it was two floors, and to get between floors you took an escalator. SO DID YOUR SHOPPING CART. You pushed it into its own special escalator, and stood next to it on your human one. So cool! I gushed about it to the cashier, who at least had to be nice to me and not judge me for getting excited over an escalator. Her name was Ashanti. AND - I got my first audition in the city! Gig doesn't pay, but that would be fine - just trying to build the ol' network.

So that's probably more information than most of you would want to know, but there you have it. Gotta have a solid exposition, right? I'm into Day 6 now, and so far it has involved waking up and waiting for our internet guy to come and give us some internet!!! We're currently stealing our neighbors' wifi. Thanks, neighbor!

This whole thing doesn't really feel real yet - just kind of like I'm house sitting or something. I've been told it takes a while to really sink in. I've also been told the first 6 months are the hardest, but this week hasn't been so bad!

Just sweaty. The first few days were really, really sweaty.