It is so cold in New York City right now. I was thinking earlier about how many of my friends have told me that they cannot stand the cold weather, and would much rather live in a warmer climate. I really HATE being cold as well, but I can definitely remember back to times during the summer where I was sweating so obscenely that I would have given anything to lay in the snow at that moment.
I really wish that there was a city that always had a steady temperature. From what I hear, San Francisco is pretty nice all year-round, and I've had many people tell me that I would fit in well in San Francisco. (Insert obvious joke here) I once asked a girl that was born in California, and raised in various coastal cities: If I were to be a city in California, which one would I be? Her answer was San Francisco.
I know that the only reason I moved to New York instead of California was because I knew one day in the future I would end up settling down in California; I needed to get New York out of my system before then. I wanted to not regret the "what if" questions one day when I was old. Is it worth it to stay somewhere that I know I won't want to be in ten years?
I sit here and look at the screen, not wondering what I wanted to accomplish in this entry. What do you think? Would you live somewhere you loved even if you hated the weather 9 months of the year? Would you begin building a life in a city that you didn't want to settle down in?
I'm not thinking about moving anytime soon, but sitting near the window at Panera is making me really cold and bitter..... grrrr...
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Good news everyone!
I was informed this morning that the internship I applied for at Next Magazine is now MINE!! After fretting over myself all last week, debating on wether or not my writing samples were good enough, how I acted during my interview, and whether or not I wrote the test copy correctly, I finally found out this morning that all of my hard work paid off!
The internship is for Next Magazine. Next is basically the gay bible in New York City. Anything under the sun that relates to gay living can be found here, and it is heavily trusted and looked upon in the gay community. The offices are very small, there are only about seven people that put together the bi-weekly magazine, and usually anywhere from three to five interns at a time.
I'm so lucky to have been chosen!
Everyone wish me luck! I'll make sure to let you know how everything goes!!
I was informed this morning that the internship I applied for at Next Magazine is now MINE!! After fretting over myself all last week, debating on wether or not my writing samples were good enough, how I acted during my interview, and whether or not I wrote the test copy correctly, I finally found out this morning that all of my hard work paid off!
The internship is for Next Magazine. Next is basically the gay bible in New York City. Anything under the sun that relates to gay living can be found here, and it is heavily trusted and looked upon in the gay community. The offices are very small, there are only about seven people that put together the bi-weekly magazine, and usually anywhere from three to five interns at a time.
I'm so lucky to have been chosen!
Everyone wish me luck! I'll make sure to let you know how everything goes!!
Sunday, January 25, 2009
posi+ive
This is quite possibly the saddest thing I have seen lately. Really makes you think twice...
Saturday, January 24, 2009
New Years Resolutions
Alright guys, I know I'm late!
These are my fun New Years Resolutions: the video is old, but entertaining nonetheless...
Enjoy!
These are my fun New Years Resolutions: the video is old, but entertaining nonetheless...
Enjoy!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Acceptance
I have decided today that I am too judgmental.
I went for my first time last night to the LGBT Center here in the city to volunteer. I have always wanted to volunteer, and have just figured that now would be the best time to do it. I was the proud wristband-putter-on-er for a new play that the Center was hosting called "Loaded". I didn't quite catch what it was about. From the crowd, I gather that it is about a young boy and an older man that fall in love after being fuck buddies for quite some time. Whatever.
The people that I was working side-by-side with, I realized, I would have easily made fun of had I seen them on the street. Patrick was wearing all second-hand clothes, and had on a bright yellow suede suit jacket. Allen was wearing a funny baret, and a plaid shirt that was probably bought in a corner bodega. Because none of my friends were with me, I was forced to not only hold back from pointing out their flaws, but talk to them, and realize that I have missed probably some of the most interesting people in my lifetime because I was too busy obsessing over how they looked.
Time after time, someone with a funny hat, or a seemingly homeless person would walk in the front doors; they were greeted just the same as everyone that walked in before and after them: with a smile. There were so many people walking around the Center, and there was no hate. It was such a neutral zone, that I feel like I want to go back every day.
I met a transgender individual. His name was Dave. It was absolutely amazing to see everyone talking and laughing and smiling with Dave, and Dave's gender was the last thing on their mind.
The Center definitely gave me a reality check last night. I'm not to sure yet, maybe they are all just social degenerates that accept each other because they have no one else. Or maybe, there really are people this loving left in the world. Either way, I feel like I need more of it.
I went for my first time last night to the LGBT Center here in the city to volunteer. I have always wanted to volunteer, and have just figured that now would be the best time to do it. I was the proud wristband-putter-on-er for a new play that the Center was hosting called "Loaded". I didn't quite catch what it was about. From the crowd, I gather that it is about a young boy and an older man that fall in love after being fuck buddies for quite some time. Whatever.
The people that I was working side-by-side with, I realized, I would have easily made fun of had I seen them on the street. Patrick was wearing all second-hand clothes, and had on a bright yellow suede suit jacket. Allen was wearing a funny baret, and a plaid shirt that was probably bought in a corner bodega. Because none of my friends were with me, I was forced to not only hold back from pointing out their flaws, but talk to them, and realize that I have missed probably some of the most interesting people in my lifetime because I was too busy obsessing over how they looked.
Time after time, someone with a funny hat, or a seemingly homeless person would walk in the front doors; they were greeted just the same as everyone that walked in before and after them: with a smile. There were so many people walking around the Center, and there was no hate. It was such a neutral zone, that I feel like I want to go back every day.
I met a transgender individual. His name was Dave. It was absolutely amazing to see everyone talking and laughing and smiling with Dave, and Dave's gender was the last thing on their mind.
The Center definitely gave me a reality check last night. I'm not to sure yet, maybe they are all just social degenerates that accept each other because they have no one else. Or maybe, there really are people this loving left in the world. Either way, I feel like I need more of it.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Taking Chances
What is life without risk?
I moved to New York approximately two years ago on a whim. I wanted to go to film school, and I wanted to be in the city. Since I have moved here, I have discovered that New York City is nothing like you see on Law & Order, it's not anything like you read about in memoirs, and it certainly is not like anything you have seen on MTV. As much as I want to admit that I am in love with this city, it is easier to admit that I fell in love with the New York that has already died.
I wanted to move to the city that never sleeps, I wanted to party all night at places like Limelight, and the Tunnel. I wanted to be a regular at a coffee shop on Avenue A. I wanted to live in a West Village dump that overlooked the river, and grow plants on my fire escape. I wanted to have a roommate that was addicted to something. I wanted to feel in danger. I wanted to be mugged. I wanted to live paycheck to paycheck and not care, I wanted to live a grungy fabulous existence that so many people before me have managed to do in the city.
However, in a post-Giuliani New York, the truth is this:
1. The city does sleep. It sleeps between the hours of 9pm and 7am, and nothing happens in between.
2. Places like Limelight and the Tunnel don't exist anymore, unless you're invited. Things that made clubs fabulous are now illegal, and everywhere is a residential "no noise" zone.
3. Coffee shops on Avenue A are now owned by corporate monsters, and people that work in them aren't friendly. Anyways, who wants to go to an authentic coffee shop when Starbucks has forced their reasonable prices through the roof?
4. "Dumps" don't happen in the West Village anymore. A 300 square foot closet overlooking the river with no running water and electricity during the day would probably run you about $7,000 a month nowadays.
5. The only place that you can find an authentic New York dump is so far away from the city that it's not worth the travel time.
6. No one is addicted to anything anymore. It's too expensive.
7. I have never felt in danger in the city. Tourists pour into every square inch of the city by the millions every day, there isn't enough room to mug someone. Places that used to be dangerous are being taken over by kids whose parents pay their rent, they have become "hip" and "trendy".
8. Paycheck to paycheck? It would be more fabulous if there were something worthwhile to spend it on.
New York is dead. Although there are a bunch of reasons why I still love the city (of which I won't list here), I feel resentful for being forced to love a clean and safe New York when all I wanted was to be rejected and raped by the old one.
I moved to New York approximately two years ago on a whim. I wanted to go to film school, and I wanted to be in the city. Since I have moved here, I have discovered that New York City is nothing like you see on Law & Order, it's not anything like you read about in memoirs, and it certainly is not like anything you have seen on MTV. As much as I want to admit that I am in love with this city, it is easier to admit that I fell in love with the New York that has already died.
I wanted to move to the city that never sleeps, I wanted to party all night at places like Limelight, and the Tunnel. I wanted to be a regular at a coffee shop on Avenue A. I wanted to live in a West Village dump that overlooked the river, and grow plants on my fire escape. I wanted to have a roommate that was addicted to something. I wanted to feel in danger. I wanted to be mugged. I wanted to live paycheck to paycheck and not care, I wanted to live a grungy fabulous existence that so many people before me have managed to do in the city.
However, in a post-Giuliani New York, the truth is this:
1. The city does sleep. It sleeps between the hours of 9pm and 7am, and nothing happens in between.
2. Places like Limelight and the Tunnel don't exist anymore, unless you're invited. Things that made clubs fabulous are now illegal, and everywhere is a residential "no noise" zone.
3. Coffee shops on Avenue A are now owned by corporate monsters, and people that work in them aren't friendly. Anyways, who wants to go to an authentic coffee shop when Starbucks has forced their reasonable prices through the roof?
4. "Dumps" don't happen in the West Village anymore. A 300 square foot closet overlooking the river with no running water and electricity during the day would probably run you about $7,000 a month nowadays.
5. The only place that you can find an authentic New York dump is so far away from the city that it's not worth the travel time.
6. No one is addicted to anything anymore. It's too expensive.
7. I have never felt in danger in the city. Tourists pour into every square inch of the city by the millions every day, there isn't enough room to mug someone. Places that used to be dangerous are being taken over by kids whose parents pay their rent, they have become "hip" and "trendy".
8. Paycheck to paycheck? It would be more fabulous if there were something worthwhile to spend it on.
New York is dead. Although there are a bunch of reasons why I still love the city (of which I won't list here), I feel resentful for being forced to love a clean and safe New York when all I wanted was to be rejected and raped by the old one.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Love and Marriage
Why is everyone getting married?
People that I graduated high school with two years ago are already getting married and starting their families! Call me crazy, but I think that 20 years old is WAY too young to be starting a family at in the year 2009...
I'm not saying that people shouldn't get married and start families, but I would at least expect them to have some sort of stable career, and enough finances to properly care for another human being. I don't think the kids having babies nowadays understand what the job entails. Before I have kids, I want to be able to support myself without worries, and see the world. I have a lot of things to get done before I start thinking about taking on a massive responsibility like children!
What do you think?
People that I graduated high school with two years ago are already getting married and starting their families! Call me crazy, but I think that 20 years old is WAY too young to be starting a family at in the year 2009...
I'm not saying that people shouldn't get married and start families, but I would at least expect them to have some sort of stable career, and enough finances to properly care for another human being. I don't think the kids having babies nowadays understand what the job entails. Before I have kids, I want to be able to support myself without worries, and see the world. I have a lot of things to get done before I start thinking about taking on a massive responsibility like children!
What do you think?
Monday, January 19, 2009
Sunday, January 18, 2009
What's Your Emergency?
Last night I was walking down 75th St, and I noticed that there was a huge pipe sticking out of the roof of a parking garage that was busted. Water was gushing out in every direction, the street was flooded, and nobody was around to notice. It was 4am, and it didn't look like anyone was coming to the rescue anytime soon, so (even though I don't live there), I thought it to be my civic duty to dial 311 and report the broken water main.
Over the course of two blocks, I had listened to five different recordings, all of which covered topics from no heat/hot water, to domestic violence, to the nearest location that offered free NYC condoms. When an operator finally picked up the phone, I had explained the situation in great detail to her, only to be told that I would have to be transferred. I held for another two minutes, talked to three different people, was transferred in total a number of four times, until I finally got a chance to speak to someone that might possibly be able to help.
A woman with a thick accent railed me with a series of questions:
1. What is your name? (I don't think you need my name)
2. Would you like to remain anonymous then, ma'am? (Sure)
3. Is the pipe above the current line? (I have no idea what the current line is)
4. Is the pipe broken in more than one place? (I have no clue, I saw it in passing)
5. Is the street flooded? (Yes)
6. Is the street sunken or about to fall? (I don't know, I didn't go wading through the water?)
-Ma'am, all I need is a simple yes or no question
7. Is your basement flooded? (No, I live more than a mile away)
-Look, I'm just trying to report a broken water main, I'm really not looking for all of this trouble right now
-Well I cannot process your request without this important information
....Really? What happened to just being able to phone in a simple request? Would this happen if I had been trying to report a homicide to 911? It pains me to think of what the world has come to...
Over the course of two blocks, I had listened to five different recordings, all of which covered topics from no heat/hot water, to domestic violence, to the nearest location that offered free NYC condoms. When an operator finally picked up the phone, I had explained the situation in great detail to her, only to be told that I would have to be transferred. I held for another two minutes, talked to three different people, was transferred in total a number of four times, until I finally got a chance to speak to someone that might possibly be able to help.
A woman with a thick accent railed me with a series of questions:
1. What is your name? (I don't think you need my name)
2. Would you like to remain anonymous then, ma'am? (Sure)
3. Is the pipe above the current line? (I have no idea what the current line is)
4. Is the pipe broken in more than one place? (I have no clue, I saw it in passing)
5. Is the street flooded? (Yes)
6. Is the street sunken or about to fall? (I don't know, I didn't go wading through the water?)
-Ma'am, all I need is a simple yes or no question
7. Is your basement flooded? (No, I live more than a mile away)
-Look, I'm just trying to report a broken water main, I'm really not looking for all of this trouble right now
-Well I cannot process your request without this important information
....Really? What happened to just being able to phone in a simple request? Would this happen if I had been trying to report a homicide to 911? It pains me to think of what the world has come to...
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Frozen state?
So, apparently New York City is in a "frozen state", which means NOBODY is hiring at the moment. This is dangerous! Learning about the Great Depression during the 1920's in high school, it seemed unrealistic by today's standards, and it was just plain crazy to think of something similar happening today.
HOWEVER. I am so disgusted with the economy right now, that it's making me physically ill. What kind of world are we living in when all Starbucks locations in NYC have halted their hiring process because they are laying off all of their employees? Are you serious?! I can't even get a job at McDonald's!!
I'm sitting here in Panera and looking at a group of kids whos parents all bought their designer coats, their iPhones, their cashmere Diesel gloves. They will never have to worry about words like "economy", or "depression". I'm not looking at them with envy, I'm not so sure that I would enjoy being one of those kids...
...but right now, a pair of cashmere Diesel gloves is looking pretty good :D
HOWEVER. I am so disgusted with the economy right now, that it's making me physically ill. What kind of world are we living in when all Starbucks locations in NYC have halted their hiring process because they are laying off all of their employees? Are you serious?! I can't even get a job at McDonald's!!
I'm sitting here in Panera and looking at a group of kids whos parents all bought their designer coats, their iPhones, their cashmere Diesel gloves. They will never have to worry about words like "economy", or "depression". I'm not looking at them with envy, I'm not so sure that I would enjoy being one of those kids...
...but right now, a pair of cashmere Diesel gloves is looking pretty good :D
Getting back into the groooove.
Hey all!
Sorry that I kept you waiting for so long! It's been a few months since I have updated, and I miss being in the regular scheme of things.
Since I have been gone, I have started a vlogging channel (my dream!).
What is a vlog channel, you ask? Basically, it's a blog, but in video format.
I also started a live TV show every Tuesday night on BlogTV...
I guess I took some time off of this blog in order to start up the other things. It was definitely worth it!
Email me if you'd like to know where my other channels are at!
PEACE =]
Sorry that I kept you waiting for so long! It's been a few months since I have updated, and I miss being in the regular scheme of things.
Since I have been gone, I have started a vlogging channel (my dream!).
What is a vlog channel, you ask? Basically, it's a blog, but in video format.
I also started a live TV show every Tuesday night on BlogTV...
I guess I took some time off of this blog in order to start up the other things. It was definitely worth it!
Email me if you'd like to know where my other channels are at!
PEACE =]
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