I have learned where the grocery store is and how to only buy what I can carry home. I know how to get from A to B via subway. I have a few friends, and thankfully, a job I enjoy so far. From earthquakes to hurricanes and football games to Fashion Week, things have been busy.

My earthquake story is boring. I thought the rumble was construction across the street. See? Boring.

My hurricane story is better. The thought of being stranded on an island with 8 million other people didn’t seem like a fun way to spend the weekend, so I decided to evacuate to Tennessee about 10 hours before my flight took off from LGA. Seeing friends and family and hanging out on the lake one last time made the trip completely worth it.

Speaking of Tennessee, this might be the most painful time of year to be away because it’s finally football season. And while nothing can match being in Knoxville and/or Neyland Stadium on game day, UT’s NYC Alumni Chapter watches the games together each week at a place called Traffic, aka my new favorite Saturday spot. An inflatable Smokey greets you at the door. UT flags are draped from the building. They even play Rocky Top every time the VOLS score. Needless to say, I plan to be there for every game.

On another note, it’s Fashion Week here in NYC, and while I did not get to attend an actual runway show, I went to the Wes Gordon exhibit and did some shopping for Fashion’s Night Out. The highlight of the night was hanging out with Max and Lubov Azria (see Lubov below) at the BCBG 5th Avenue store.

These pictures are from the Wes Gordon exhibit. There were models standing on pedestals, and as all the guests and fashion photographers passed by, they would work the cameras. See example below.

They would stare like this the entire time your camera (or phone in my case) was pointed in their direction.

Fashion intrigues me, so I had a great time.

More to come,

-M

My favorite (and by favorite I mean worst) is the garbage truck guys that come by at about 3 a.m. Not only do I get that annoying “large truck in reverse” beeping noise (yes, I just linked to give you a sample), I am also graced with the banter of the men hurling the garbage in the back of the truck. One of them usually tops it off by making a “woo hoo” noise, which is also very loud.

Then there are the sirens, which I also feel are unnecessarily loud. And what would New York be without lots of horn honking? The below signs are likely meaningless.

And in the mornings, there are the taxi whistlers outside the hotel across the street. Although the whistles can get annoying, I am considering purchasing one to aid in my own taxi catching adventures.  If the arm in the air doesn’t do the trick, a shrill whistle sure will.

Forgive me for the above rant about street noise; I am definitely enjoying my time here.

And speaking of enjoying my time, last weekend brought with it my first visitors–my mom, aunt and namesake (my grandmother). It was great to have family around, and I enjoy playing tour guide.

We saw St. Paul’s Chapel (which has one of the best stories in the city–I blogged about it once here), the WTC site (which is really coming along–check it out here), the Statue of Liberty (from a distance), St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Rockefeller Center, Times Square and all the other great tourist spots. We also went to see a Broadway musical, ate dinner in Little Italy (yum) and Devil’s Food Cheesecake from Juniors (double yum), and I introduced them to another personal favorite–macarons from Macaron Cafe. These little French cookies are the bomb. Don’t worry, future visitors, I will introduce you. For now, enjoy the delicious picture.

Au revoir!

-M

I was a huge *NSYNC fan, and I may or may not have had a necklace with the name “Justin” on it in middle school, so needless to say, I am all smiles after tonight’s JT sighting. The guy can sing and dance; he’s not hard on the eyes, and he’s funny. When Justin is on SNL, I am glued to the TV. (In case you missed it, click here for Hulu’s playlist of his best sketches.) Now that Justin and I have had our first date, it’s clear that we’ll be married someday and all my childhood dreams will come true.

Would it be totally nerdy to sign off with Bye Bye Bye?

-M

Long story short, I decided it was time to make a change. I quit my job and left pretty much everything I know to do something I have always wanted to do–live in New York.  It was not the easiest decision, but the right thing to do isn’t always easy, and for me, this was the right thing to do.

I am fortunate to have a supportive family and group of friends from home, as well as some friends here in the city. I have not found a job yet, but I have started applying. Everyone I talk to about it assures me that it takes time to find a job and to take advantage of my unemployed time here, and that’s what I plan to do. New York is a great city, and even though I know I don’ t want to live here forever, and even if I don’t get my dream job, I know my time here will be well spent.

So here I am–in my little room above a Cafe Metro in Manhattan, living (and applying for) my dream.

-M

Too cool!

Our itinerary is as follows:

Day 1 – 2 Barcelona, Spain

Day 3 – 4 Barcelona to French Riviera

Day 5 French Riviera to Cinque Terre, Italy

Day 6 Cinque Terre to Tuscany

Day 7 – 8 Tuscany

Day 9 – 10 Tuscany to Rome

Day 11 Rome

We may take a train up to Venice after, just haven’t decided yet.

Any thoughts? Must-sees? Dos and Don’ts? We will be on a guided tour, but we will have some free time in each city.

-M

No matter what the sticky situation may be, Jack Bauer always finds a way out. Though he is supposed to follow protocol, he does what he feels is best even if it means breaking the rules a bit. He takes lives, he saves lives, and it’s all in a day’s work (or 24 episodes).

Though Jack Bauer is everyone’s hero, his life is dramatic. His crises usually mean life or death, but sometimes the rut I am in feels like it means life or death.

The rut I am referring to began when I was asked, “What are you going to do after you graduate?”

My response: A blank stare followed by, “Um…good question.”

Everything was so much easier when I was 5 years old and wanted nothing more than to be a veterinarian.  I stopped pursuing that after job shadowing a vet in a high school and almost fainting during a cat neutering surgery.

Since then, I haven’t had a clear direction. I have interests, but they are hard to narrow down and they don’t really relate. Now I am in some sort of melt down. I am two and a half semesters from graduation and full of questions. Is this really what I want to do? Should I go to grad school or get a job? And what about the economy? Will I even be able to get a job?

Luckily, most of those already in the “real world” (what does that even mean?) say that it will all fall into place, and I hope that is the truth. Though these decisions are important, I know they will not seem so critical in hindsight.

In the mean time, I plan to enjoy college while it lasts, and when it comes time to don the cap and gown again, I will be ready. I am not sure what I will do after a graduate, but I trust that it will all work out.

And I will be thankful that the decisions I have to make don’t compare to Jack Bauer’s.

-M

1. I have kept a journal consistently since about 3rd grade. I try to write every day, but I make an entry at least a few times a week.

2. I try to read my Bible every night. My 6th grade Sunday school teacher got me in the habit.

3. I spend more time organizing things in order to be productive than actually being productive.

4. I keep my camera in my purse. Life happens everyday.

5. I have already designed my dream closet. I told you, I am an organizational freak, and my closet will be amazing someday.

6. I love New York City. I still have a MetroCard in my wallet from the summer.

7. I love recycling. Everyone should go green!

8. I worry about stupid things and over analyze everything.

9. I went to a clown camp when I was 7. Long story. Ask if you must.

10. I am a girly girl who loves makeup and heels, but I also love being outside.

11. Snakes don’t bother me, but spiders do.

12. I love chocolate. My newest favorite is Russel Stover’s Mississippi Mud Truffles. If you haven’t had one, I suggest you do so.

13. I hate matching socks. I buy weird colors and patterns so I don’t have to. Life is just too short.

14. I love fashion magazines. Glamour is my favorite.

15. I hate speed bumps.

16. I only sing in the car.

17. My closet is color coordinated, light to dark.

18.  I miss “Growning Pains.” I had a big crush on Mike.

19. I love my pets. My dog, Caramel, I have had since 1997. She is incredibly loyal and an amazing dog. My other dogs, Dallas and Louie, turn 3 this month (February). Dallas has a skin problem that makes him a little stinky but I still love him. Medicated shampoo helps! I also have three cats and a rabbit. In the past I have had birds, turtles, geckos, frogs, gerbils, hamsters, mice, nutes, guinea pigs, goats, ponies, chickens, ducks, chinchillas, and a sugar glider. I am also a complete dork for fish tanks.

20. I went to Jamaica on a mission trip in 2003 and it was one of the best experiences of my life.

21. I have never broken a bone, but I have had three oral surgeries-tooth extraction, wisdom teeth removal, and a tonsillectomy. Whoever said getting wisdom teeth removed is worse than a tonsillectomy, you are crazy.

22.  I can’t wait to travel around Europe next summer (if everything goes as planned).

23. I was born at 3:14 a.m. on a Friday. I swear I see the that number everywhere.

24.  My favorite stuffed animal when I was a kid was an elephant named Abbi.

25.  I can moonwalk (in socks on a slippery floor).