Saturday, January 31, 2009

San Francisco

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...

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Single Ladies

Aren't I much better than Beyoncé?


Single Ladies- Broadcast your self LIVE

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!!

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!

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.

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.