Oh Hey

So we’ve officially been slacking on this blog. This is partially because we’ve been having very productive, social weeks and partially because I now refuse to bring my laptop home from work. And on the rare occasions I crack and bring it home, our shoddy internet really ruins lives.

A few weeks ago we took a little field trip down to Philadelphia to visit some of our dearest friends. We felt like we were in Europe while there. It felt like being in Brussels actually because we spent most of our time wandering around aimlessly yet we managed to see all the sights that Morgan 2.0 recommended. Morgan 2.0 was the best. I got to spend quality time with Jose which was nice. (That is your shoutout and all I have to say about you.) We also got to see our friend in his improv show which as baller status.

As Morgan mentioned, we went to CRAFTERNOON last weekend. Wonderful. Just Wonderful. I understand crafting is supposed to be relaxing and joyful but it sometimes just gives me mass anxiety. This was probably amplified by the fact that I woke up Saturday morning (morning of Crafternoon) to be informed that they would only allow 90 people and the doors open at 1:45. It was already 12. We rallied to actually get up, get ready, stop for coffee to cure the alcohol headaches and then took an AWFULLY smelly subway up to the New York Public Library. We frantically walked around, asked for help and finally we found the Martha Stewart sign on the second floor. And three people in line. We ended up having to sit at a table with this old chatterbox that was crafting some very interesting pieces. She wouldn’t cut any of her own designs; instead she’d ask to use our ‘trash’. She MEANT scraps, but at first I didn’t understand and started shoving my candy wrappers toward her. We also only had two hours so I also felt rushed due to time constraints. But all in all, it was an entertainingly fantastic way to spend our Saturday afternoon.

I also want to publically shame Morgan now for throwing me under the bus (MULTIPLE times in one night-but I’ll focus on what matters). Let me paint you a picture. We were out last Wednesday at Pianos and I was trying to be a good person and inform some new friends about CYCLONE Yasi. (Which I accidently kept calling Yani because I just wasn’t able to think of the proper name at the time. This already had people making fun of me.) No one believed Yani was happening/as big of a deal as I was making it but I wasn’t able to drop it. Someone jokingly says, “Maybe you should blog about it.” I fess up and admit that I do, indeed, have a blog. Everyone laughs AT me. Not with me, team. And guess who just laughed along with them? You guessed it.

Namaste

Whoops. I guess it's been a month since our last post. Those January doldrums (aka the never-ending mountains of snow and canyons of slush) really brought me down. I can't say I will miss this winter much. Carrying on with my goal to do more New York-y things, Ami and I tried Yoga to the People for the first time tonight. She may have had to bully me a little into going since I would have liked to stay lazy but I'm glad we joined the rest of the mostly NYU (with a sprinkling of Columbia) students intermingled with emaciated model-types whose bones popped out far too much to be okay. On the whole though, I enjoyed the class. The pace was awfully fast, and I clearly needed to brush up on my yoga terms prior to going, but a quick scan around the room helped me figure out exactly what anjaneyasana meant (the half moon pose/stretch?)

The elevated ceilings, exposed brick and soothing music all lead to a very zen feeling. Until we had to hold a pose for more than 5 seconds and my limbs started to wobble and and my breathing faltered. The nap at the end was a little short for my taste but they did have lovely Tibetan singing bowls that really resonated throughout the room. My new goal is to join in twice a week and actually manage to inhale and exhale properly considering breathing is the main point in yoga. In order to facilitate this I need to actually buy a yoga mat. Borrowing one of the communal mats is on a regular basis is just a little too smelly for me. And now I'll have a more legitimate excuse to buy cute yoga clothes, right?

We definitely need to post more often because we've been trying to do lots of funtivities and lately, actually succeeding at it. One word to get you to check back: crafternoon.

Molten Chocolate Lave Cake

2011 is off to a fantastic start. New job, new laptop, new blog post. But best off all, I now have the ultimate BEST connection to have in all of NYC. While out for a quick drink the other night, the craving for a molten chocolate lava cake hit. After deciding we would have to go to Chikalicious, I decided I should call first to confirm 1) that they were open and 2) that they actually still HAD lava cakes. (Earlier in the week I had made the terrible mistake of convincing a large group of friends to go only to find they were sold out of all the good dishes, but whatever. I forgive you Chikalicious.)

So I call while at the bar and ask him if they still have any. He tells me they probably do and then offers to check for me and says he will call me back. I figure he's like most food service people and will say probably and not REALLY check. But a minute later he calls back asking how many I would like to make sure. I attempt to let him know but the bar is loud and he can't hear. He hangs up. I figure he's probably annoyed. Not good. I go outside and call him back to apologize and not only is he SUPER nice, he goes above and beyond and offers to put them on hold for me. While on the phone I ALSO get a text from him saying "How many should I save for you? -Chikalicous." After hanging up I get, "2 lava cakes under the name "Amy". (I will forgive him for the typo) We will bake upon your arrival. Thank you!!!!!-Chikalicious." I text him back to thank him and he responds with a polite little, "You bet!". I was quite impressed by how nice this guy was and I now have even MORE love for Chikalicious. While walking to Chikalicious I got concerned that I had actually called the wrong number and some random was playing a prank on me because I was texting this guy's personal cell phone. (This is a prank I would probably consider doing if I ever got a call from some fatass calling to double check she could get two molten chocolate lava cakes at 11pm.) But no worries, it was totally legit. To top it off, the people that ordered after us in line wanted lava cakes and they were sold out! Ultimate winner. I was trying to figure out exactly which one I was on the phone with but it's still a bit of a mystery-all the more reason to text in my order again!

I urge you all to go there to try one and if you'd like me to request one to have ready upon arrival, you just shoot me a text. Props, Chikalicious. You get two thumbs up. Best. Connection. Ever.

dude. where's my car?

So, in case you live in Timbuktu and you don't pay attention to the news, the Eastern Seaboard has been hit with some snow. As beautiful as it was to experience a winter wonderland at home in the comfort of my own home, NYC + snow = disaster. My bus to return tonight was cancelled yesterday, and luckily my father had the foresight to buy a train ticket right away. The train actually got me into the city drama free, though it was sold out, as was every other train leaving Boston today. I'm pretty sure it was the safest route too, so props to pops for that call. I have a friend stranded in Michigan until Friday, so as much as it sucks to have to come back for three measly days of classes, I feel fortunate I could get back.

I had seen other peoples' photos of the dramatic snowstorm, but I still wasn't emotionally (or physically...tomorrow I must buy real winter boots) prepared to emerge from the subway to this. The snow drifts at the corners of streets are at least 4 feet tall with NO pathway shoveled. I think we can all imagine how graceful I looked hiking those peaks in my white wool coat and leather boots, while oncoming traffic hurtled towards me. I knew it was bad when I passed Rocket Joe's ( the disgusting pizza joint near our apartment) and it was CLOSED. I've never ever seen this place closed. It's usually open 24 hours and somehow, there's always somebody eating a slice of bland pizza or tough garlic knots inside. I can only imagine what my walk to school tomorrow morning will entail. Maybe the magical snow shoveling elves will be hard at work tonight? Dare I hope?

On a happier note, I hope everybody had a marvelous Christmas/Boxing Day/day off/long weekend etc and there was delicious food had by all! I know I certainly ate my way through the holiday. I see a few more gym trips in my near future!

I feel like a real New Yorker today...

So while Ami has abandoned me to be with her family in the 'burbs for the holidays (ugh. rude.) I am forced to entertain myself. Today's adventure included doing a very New York-y thing, something I have yet to experience in my five years of living here. Unbelivably, I don't possess a New York Public library card nor have I stepped foot in the Steven A. Schwarzman building (a building which, until about 3 hours ago I fully believed was simply called the Main Branch. It's not.) I trekked up to Bryant Park which I should have avoided considering it is the weekend before Christmas. Talk about tourists galore! I literally had to talk to myself to calm myself down and remind myself that I signed up for going to this part of town. Yes, you may call me crazy. Once I stepped foot inside the building I instantly understood why Carrie from Sex and the City tried to get married there. It is absolutely gorgeous. It didn't hurt that the entirely marble and old oak building with frescoed ceilings was decked out for the holidays either.

Though there were still too many tourists inside the building for my taste, I managed to navigate myself towards Library Card Services (well, I stopped at the help desk, but c'mon the building is HUGE!) Getting a card is easy-peasy. I brought my lease (I have tried this before and if you have an out of state ID then, you have to prove you're a New York City resident) but the man giving me my card didn't even ask to see it. Sweet! In about 5 minutes, I had my card and my handy-dandy key chain sized version. The next challenge quickly became to actually find books I wanted to read without looking like a buffoon. Somewhere in the back of my head, I remembered hearing this branch was awesome for research and resources, so I was a little hesitant as to whether they even had a fiction section. I refused to be that kid asking for fun books at a serious library. Luckily there are computers in pretty much every room that have access to the entire library system's database, where I learned that all the fun books were across the street in the Mid-Manhattan branch.

These two buildings are night and day! As gorgeous as the Steven A. Schwarzman building was, the Mid Manhattan was not. Also, there wasn't a tourist in sight in the far more utilitarian building. But fear not, the ugly book houses the fun books! I checked two out and can't wait to see what else I can obtain now that I feel as though I have a key to the city! Hopefully my brain will revert back from the current mush-state I feel it's at now and before you know it I can use all my new-found knowledge to win trivia! I guess that means I might need to read the un-fun books...

(edit: I should include that Ami left me a super awesome blossom "I'm sorry I'm abandoning you" (well, that's what I assume she meant) gift! A stocking filled with gummibaren, holiday Pez dispensers, Reese's Cups and an adorable snowman sippy cup. The pièce de résistance was the adorbz lobster card in which she wrote a note. So don't hate her too much for leaving me!)

Anxiety = All Time High.

I'm having major anxiety right now so I feel like I should post. It's also 11:11 so I just made a wish. We just returned from Trivia Night at our new local bar (Fontana's). We were hmm 2 of..8 people at the trivia. Pretty solid turnout. It was still pretty decent though! They had an HOUR of free beer and then had a SNOWBOARD giveaway (I did not win.) They also gave out shots for the most festive holiday team name (Note: White Morgan contributed nothing to a good name. So we did not win that either.) Was it racist of me to expect a good Christmas name from her? Yes. Either way, we didn't come in last so that's the silver lining to the day. We ALSO got free pizza at this place so it just may be worth returning to every Wednesday. You should all consider coming with us one week.

Yesterday I got to try the hot chocolate place Morgan dubbed numero uno and I have to admit, it was pretty good. They were decorating for Christmas so it was extra nice sitting there. I highly recommend it. We went to play in Best Buy after and honestly, it was a pretty ghetto Best Buy. Barely any of the electronics on display worked and I couldn't even use the turntables I wanted to play with. Bogus. We also went to Kate Spade. What a cute little store. I fell in love with multiple things that I feel like I NEED as a young adult. I just want a super organized planner/date book with detachable ruler. Ugh, so perfect for my life right now. (Brother, if you're reading PLEASE call Morgan and ask her what I want. I left her a list if you do actually call.) I also want a bracelet I can actually fit into-K.Spade didn't have these but I forgive her.

Morgan will probably be PISSED I wrote AGAIN and totally hijacked topics she was going to blog about but such is life. You snooze, you lose, RedHead. But just a warning, after tomorrow (at 5 PM) I will no longer have a laptop so this may be my last post for a little while. Eek!

Got the Spring Back In My Step

Today is a good day. Morgan (and you all, really) should be happy to know I found the family heirloom I lost. It fell into my drawer but there it was this morning! The heirloom is really just a bobby pin I stole from Ba BUT it was the best bobby pin I ever had. And now he's back.

This made me realize I wish I had a real family heirloom-now that I know I'm capable of caring for it, I think I should get one. Over Thanksgiving I got to see my GREAT Grandba. (Ba's mom) She's always been quite the little character and I was always her favorite because I would hang with her the most. She called me "My Ami" when she saw me and then barely recognized my cousins. Winner! She's apparently rockin' the social scene at the little nursing home she's in right now despite the fact that she doesn't speak English like ALL the others there. The nurses were also trying to set her up with some man there. Maybe I can improve my game by watching her. So cute. But I think my gameplan will be to ask HER for an heirloom-she must at the very least have bobby pins.

Over the weekend I got to see Jess AND Jane in the city. Jess commented on a recent post (props for being the FIRST to comment since the revival of the blog) so I feel obligated to mention her now. So that was your shoutout. But it was super getting to see them both. Toast to eating local.