Sunday, December 20, 2009
And then...
Just when I thought the worst was over, and my vacation was about to begin--- I fall down a flight of stairs and dislocate my shoulder.
Oh, 2009. How I'll miss you.
Oh, 2009. How I'll miss you.
Grounded, or - The Lost Weekend
I've had one of the most bizarre weekends. Everything feels upside down. I missed practically everything I had planned, but I was busy almost every minute.
It feels like Time slipped through my fingers.
It's been going on a bit like this for a week, but things ramped up Friday night, when I worked very late, then went to the last Spanish class of the year (which my teacher allowed me to attend despite the fact I didn't pay for it).
Class went from 7pm (I got there at 8:30pm) to 11pm. I was supposed to then attend a party in Brooklyn, but I had a 15K race at 8am, and I needed to get some rest. There was no way.
Saturday morning I was up by 6:30am and took at cab to the Upper East Side to get my race number. The 15K was the most miserable race experience of my life - including the one where I was injured. It started off with me falling on my back, with my arm twisted behind me, on some black ice in front of the port-o-potties. My nose ran and mucus froze on my face throughout the entire thing. Though I wore gloves for most of the race, after an hour and a half of running out there, my hands lost movement. It took about 5 minutes for me to pull 1 glove on my hand as I struggled with it (and some minor frostbite).
I remember chewing my bagel after the race realizing my cheeks and mouth were stiff, making it hard to eat.
After that, it was 10am - and I was due in Brooklyn at 11am, supposed to spend the day with a friend. I still needed to get packed for my trip (flight leaving at 6am the next morning), go on a date, and then go to a party. If I kept all my appointments, there was no way I would have any time to pack at all.
I could barely move. After the race, I wiped out on my sofa, for several hours and canceled on Brooklyn. I did make it to the date, which was in midtown in the early evening. I hung out in Bryant Park for a few minutes, watching ice skaters as the snow came down. It was beautiful. I was completely covered in snow, and didn't care.
After the date, the snow was stacked over a foot in places. It was impossible to see. I was totally disoriented - somehow I was in Times Square, though I could have sworn I was across from Bryant Park. It had been my plan to take a cab to the next party- the Ugly Sweater Party- because I was in heels and had a hard time walking in the snow.
But, there were no cabs. So I went into the subway, ugly sweater (which I had brought to the date- multi-tasking) - on over my substantially more sexy date outfit. I was soaked to the bone. The train took forever. By the time I was on it, it was 11:30pm.
At that point, I debated. I was on the 1 train, which goes down Broadway. To make it to the party I'd have to cross 2 avenues in the deep snow, in my heels. I estimated it would talk about 15 minutes to walk from the train to the party, then 15 minutes back. By then it would be 12am, never mind any time I actually spent at the party. But, I had to be on the bus at 3:30 am to make my flight in the morning.
I decided to sleep instead.
When I got home, there was a loud beeping noise going off every 30 seconds. I couldn't tell where it was coming from, but I managed to get to sleep eventually by turning on the air-conditioner fan. Three hours later I was up again, and out the door.
I stopped by the front desk to leave a note for the Super about the strange beeping sound. Tim, the doorman saw my suitcase and said my flight was probably canceled. I looked at him, bleary-eyed, with almost disdain. That couldn't be.
Out the windows, I could see snow piled high on the cars. I realized I hadn't checked my phone. Sure enough, American Airlines had called. My flight was cancelled.
After over an hour of waiting (falling in and out of sleep) I finally got someone at American Airlines. They said there was a flight I could catch out of Newark, at 6:20am. Did I want it? The next one, they said, was on Tuesday. It was 5am at that point, and I was very quiet, the beeping was the only sound in the building.
I wasn't at all sure I could get to Newark in time for the flight- even if I took a cab. There was security to contend with, too. I asked her if there were any flights to Phoenix instead - she said those were on Wednesday.
In my exhaustion, I took the Tuesday flight. I would only have a few hours with my dad now, before he left for Ohio. We were supposed to have 2 days together this year. I was disappointed, and helpless.
So, I went to fight the beep.
Tim came upstairs with me, taking a break from his unfathomably uncomfortable chair by the desk - to figure out the source. Turns out, it was coming from the apartment next to mine. He said he would tell the super in the morning.
When he left, a loud banging started in the walls. I couldn't believe it. What more? I turned on the a/c again, my only defense, and eventually drifted off to sleep.
At some point I woke up, and realized I hadn't asked the American agent if any other airlines had flights. It was a terrible, unfathomable, rookie mistake. I have been flying in bad weather since high school and I know if you don't ask, they don't look at other airlines.
I got on the phone again. The wait was now over an hour and a half to talk to an agent. I put her on speaker and waited.
When she came on, she told me that since I already accepted the new flight it would cost me to change it again. I told her I'd forgotten to ask because it was 4am when I first called and I was exhausted and not thinking straight. It didn't matter. I was too tired to fight it, and hung up.
The walls beeped at me again and again as I tried to get asleep again. Eventually, I got up and dragged the Super up here.
Now, the beep is finally silent. I'm going to Brooklyn for a redux and relax and paint a little. I'm not going to fight the snow and the schedules anymore; I'm giving in to it. What's done is done.
It's been a weekend of near-misses, unfortunate circumstances, beauty, and lost control. Energy spent for little gain. I think tonight I will sleep very, very well.
It feels like Time slipped through my fingers.
It's been going on a bit like this for a week, but things ramped up Friday night, when I worked very late, then went to the last Spanish class of the year (which my teacher allowed me to attend despite the fact I didn't pay for it).
Class went from 7pm (I got there at 8:30pm) to 11pm. I was supposed to then attend a party in Brooklyn, but I had a 15K race at 8am, and I needed to get some rest. There was no way.
Saturday morning I was up by 6:30am and took at cab to the Upper East Side to get my race number. The 15K was the most miserable race experience of my life - including the one where I was injured. It started off with me falling on my back, with my arm twisted behind me, on some black ice in front of the port-o-potties. My nose ran and mucus froze on my face throughout the entire thing. Though I wore gloves for most of the race, after an hour and a half of running out there, my hands lost movement. It took about 5 minutes for me to pull 1 glove on my hand as I struggled with it (and some minor frostbite).
I remember chewing my bagel after the race realizing my cheeks and mouth were stiff, making it hard to eat.
After that, it was 10am - and I was due in Brooklyn at 11am, supposed to spend the day with a friend. I still needed to get packed for my trip (flight leaving at 6am the next morning), go on a date, and then go to a party. If I kept all my appointments, there was no way I would have any time to pack at all.
I could barely move. After the race, I wiped out on my sofa, for several hours and canceled on Brooklyn. I did make it to the date, which was in midtown in the early evening. I hung out in Bryant Park for a few minutes, watching ice skaters as the snow came down. It was beautiful. I was completely covered in snow, and didn't care.
After the date, the snow was stacked over a foot in places. It was impossible to see. I was totally disoriented - somehow I was in Times Square, though I could have sworn I was across from Bryant Park. It had been my plan to take a cab to the next party- the Ugly Sweater Party- because I was in heels and had a hard time walking in the snow.
But, there were no cabs. So I went into the subway, ugly sweater (which I had brought to the date- multi-tasking) - on over my substantially more sexy date outfit. I was soaked to the bone. The train took forever. By the time I was on it, it was 11:30pm.
At that point, I debated. I was on the 1 train, which goes down Broadway. To make it to the party I'd have to cross 2 avenues in the deep snow, in my heels. I estimated it would talk about 15 minutes to walk from the train to the party, then 15 minutes back. By then it would be 12am, never mind any time I actually spent at the party. But, I had to be on the bus at 3:30 am to make my flight in the morning.
I decided to sleep instead.
When I got home, there was a loud beeping noise going off every 30 seconds. I couldn't tell where it was coming from, but I managed to get to sleep eventually by turning on the air-conditioner fan. Three hours later I was up again, and out the door.
I stopped by the front desk to leave a note for the Super about the strange beeping sound. Tim, the doorman saw my suitcase and said my flight was probably canceled. I looked at him, bleary-eyed, with almost disdain. That couldn't be.
Out the windows, I could see snow piled high on the cars. I realized I hadn't checked my phone. Sure enough, American Airlines had called. My flight was cancelled.
After over an hour of waiting (falling in and out of sleep) I finally got someone at American Airlines. They said there was a flight I could catch out of Newark, at 6:20am. Did I want it? The next one, they said, was on Tuesday. It was 5am at that point, and I was very quiet, the beeping was the only sound in the building.
I wasn't at all sure I could get to Newark in time for the flight- even if I took a cab. There was security to contend with, too. I asked her if there were any flights to Phoenix instead - she said those were on Wednesday.
In my exhaustion, I took the Tuesday flight. I would only have a few hours with my dad now, before he left for Ohio. We were supposed to have 2 days together this year. I was disappointed, and helpless.
So, I went to fight the beep.
Tim came upstairs with me, taking a break from his unfathomably uncomfortable chair by the desk - to figure out the source. Turns out, it was coming from the apartment next to mine. He said he would tell the super in the morning.
When he left, a loud banging started in the walls. I couldn't believe it. What more? I turned on the a/c again, my only defense, and eventually drifted off to sleep.
At some point I woke up, and realized I hadn't asked the American agent if any other airlines had flights. It was a terrible, unfathomable, rookie mistake. I have been flying in bad weather since high school and I know if you don't ask, they don't look at other airlines.
I got on the phone again. The wait was now over an hour and a half to talk to an agent. I put her on speaker and waited.
When she came on, she told me that since I already accepted the new flight it would cost me to change it again. I told her I'd forgotten to ask because it was 4am when I first called and I was exhausted and not thinking straight. It didn't matter. I was too tired to fight it, and hung up.
The walls beeped at me again and again as I tried to get asleep again. Eventually, I got up and dragged the Super up here.
Now, the beep is finally silent. I'm going to Brooklyn for a redux and relax and paint a little. I'm not going to fight the snow and the schedules anymore; I'm giving in to it. What's done is done.
It's been a weekend of near-misses, unfortunate circumstances, beauty, and lost control. Energy spent for little gain. I think tonight I will sleep very, very well.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Wiped
This holiday season is kicking my butt. I am laying on a sofa totally spent. I ran 15K this morning in freezing temps, and my nose ran faster than I did.
Tomorrow I leave for Arizona. I have no clean clothes or proper gifts to take, just myself and some odds and ends to pack before I go out tonight.
The real holidays start now. Just as soon as I get up.
Tomorrow I leave for Arizona. I have no clean clothes or proper gifts to take, just myself and some odds and ends to pack before I go out tonight.
The real holidays start now. Just as soon as I get up.
Labels: holidays
Friday, December 18, 2009
Detox
Wow. The company holiday party this year was strange. I'm glad we had something, as opposed to nothing. But since we have 5 floors of offices, I spent most my time wandering around, lost. I did take part in a sing-a-long on the 10th floor, which I loved. Our 70s Dance Party Theme didn't pan out so well on the 4th floor. It was empty. Everyone was on 12, with the karaoke.
There wasn't much space to mingle. My entire department bailed pretty early. Thank God my friends in another department were serious about having fun! That saved the evening.
After one after-party, and 5 beers, I had the Snowball date planned. It was delayed due to trains (which prob accounted for one of the beers). So in order to be sober for this date, I ate an entire veggie burger in a matter of seconds, and a whole order of fries.
Yeah, this wasn't on my diet plan for the day. But, it was an emergency. It was such a sight, my napkin tucked into my dress, that someone took a picture.
On the way to the date I stopped in every single deli, to find a Hostess Snowball. My tentative plan was to throw a (wrapped) one at his head when he walked in, and thusly avenge the Cornell architects.
I never found one, unfortunately.
I arrived at the lounge in a great mood. Relatively sober, I ordered a drink and went to the back. The place is nicer than I expected, actually. It's well-lit, very festive, with decent music. I loved it.
At some point during the date, the bar turned sketchy. Also, a friend texted the Dude and told him that he won the raffle at his company party, and laughed at him for not being there to get his prize. The prize? A Wii.
A Wii.
Yeah, I have a feeling even the lamest investment bank parties are 20 times nicer than the best publishing parties. WOW.
I had a great time on the date. I haven't laughed that much on one of those for a long time. I couldn't tell how much fun he was having, though. I have to admit I felt a bit guilty about the Wii, his long commute there, and the fact he missed his dinner.
A more sober me would have suggested making the evening worth a Wii in fun. Perhaps, doing something nuts or stupid like going to see the Wax Museum. At least, getting him something to eat. But, slightly inebriated me wasn't so inspired or bold. Mostly, I was getting sleepy. It was 10:30pm, and my night had started at 4pm.
On the way to my train, he made some jokes about NYC and how no one really likes it here, but we all tell ourselves we do.
At that point, I saw that the difference in where we live is much more than a distance- it's a mentality. But, I liked this guy. He had a great personality. Did he like me? I have no idea. Of all the dates, he's the only one who hasn't mentioned a future date in some way or another.
So, I'm going with... eh. Probably not. No biggie. Logistics kinda hurt the night - so I'll just go with that theory. The ones you like don't like you back.. that's kinda the definition of dating.
I have decided that I need a detox- starting today. My whole plan to lose 7 lbs by the end of the year has resulted in me gaining 2. So, it's time for salads and fish again. And to cool the liver as best I can, considering there are still 3 parties and one date and a Spanish class to go before I leave Sunday .
I'm kinda relieved now, to go to Arizona. I can't wait to wake up late and have NOTHING to do but drink water, run, and eat vegetables.
There wasn't much space to mingle. My entire department bailed pretty early. Thank God my friends in another department were serious about having fun! That saved the evening.
After one after-party, and 5 beers, I had the Snowball date planned. It was delayed due to trains (which prob accounted for one of the beers). So in order to be sober for this date, I ate an entire veggie burger in a matter of seconds, and a whole order of fries.
Yeah, this wasn't on my diet plan for the day. But, it was an emergency. It was such a sight, my napkin tucked into my dress, that someone took a picture.
On the way to the date I stopped in every single deli, to find a Hostess Snowball. My tentative plan was to throw a (wrapped) one at his head when he walked in, and thusly avenge the Cornell architects.
I never found one, unfortunately.
I arrived at the lounge in a great mood. Relatively sober, I ordered a drink and went to the back. The place is nicer than I expected, actually. It's well-lit, very festive, with decent music. I loved it.
At some point during the date, the bar turned sketchy. Also, a friend texted the Dude and told him that he won the raffle at his company party, and laughed at him for not being there to get his prize. The prize? A Wii.
A Wii.
Yeah, I have a feeling even the lamest investment bank parties are 20 times nicer than the best publishing parties. WOW.
I had a great time on the date. I haven't laughed that much on one of those for a long time. I couldn't tell how much fun he was having, though. I have to admit I felt a bit guilty about the Wii, his long commute there, and the fact he missed his dinner.
A more sober me would have suggested making the evening worth a Wii in fun. Perhaps, doing something nuts or stupid like going to see the Wax Museum. At least, getting him something to eat. But, slightly inebriated me wasn't so inspired or bold. Mostly, I was getting sleepy. It was 10:30pm, and my night had started at 4pm.
On the way to my train, he made some jokes about NYC and how no one really likes it here, but we all tell ourselves we do.
At that point, I saw that the difference in where we live is much more than a distance- it's a mentality. But, I liked this guy. He had a great personality. Did he like me? I have no idea. Of all the dates, he's the only one who hasn't mentioned a future date in some way or another.
So, I'm going with... eh. Probably not. No biggie. Logistics kinda hurt the night - so I'll just go with that theory. The ones you like don't like you back.. that's kinda the definition of dating.
I have decided that I need a detox- starting today. My whole plan to lose 7 lbs by the end of the year has resulted in me gaining 2. So, it's time for salads and fish again. And to cool the liver as best I can, considering there are still 3 parties and one date and a Spanish class to go before I leave Sunday .
I'm kinda relieved now, to go to Arizona. I can't wait to wake up late and have NOTHING to do but drink water, run, and eat vegetables.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Date Yourself
Here I go again, on the dating merry-go-round. It's kinda exciting, kinda scary, and kinda makes me want to throw up.
Looking for tips, I came across some good advice online tonight:
Date Yourself.
Treat yourself as a good date would treat you, all the time.
I think that is excellent advice. And, a more universal version of my "be your own Genie."
For instance- I have two dates this week. On the first, a 2nd date, I am ice-skating, because the guy mentioned he was taking lessons - because women love to ice skate, and he wants to impress women with his moves. How sweet is that?
For the other date - a first date - the venue was left up to me. It's kinda a crazy story, but this guy is many many things. First of all, he's former Whistling Shrimp - meaning, he went to Cornell too (which we realized in our 2nd phone call- neither of us had it posted). The Whistling Shrimp are a rather funny improv group on campus, which I have actually paid to see.
In 1997, he was a senior in Mechanical engineering. Turns out, we've fought before. He actually threw snowballs at my head and feet that spring, as I and all the other 1st year architects held up the heavy tail of a dragon and tore it through a shoddy (and ugly) castle the engineers built, during the infamous Dragon Day Parade. He's hilarious. He's an investment banker. And, he lives in Connecticut.
Yeah, I'm breaking lots of my own rules. 1) Cornell engineers are like architects' mortal enemies. And, 2) I've mentioned what I think of bankers. And 3) the suburbs. But, he is too funny. And, I have an obligation to hit him in the feet with a snowball. So, there you have it.
It turns out, both of us are skipping out on our company holiday parties (which are of course, at the same time, on the same day) - to go out on a date with each other. I had to pick a suitable venue for this, & all the other bizarre coincidences.
Instead of thinking of what he would like, I decided to date myself, which is much easier. I chose this place , The (Seedy) Distinguished Wakamba Cocktail Lounge, which I have ALWAYS been curious about.
I don't know if I'm more excited about the bar, or the date. Right now it doesn't matter. Fact is, I'm up at 1 am blogging about a dude I've never met, and a bar I've never been to.
It's bad.
I'm breaking a 4th rule- I'm getting too excited. I know how these things go.. the more you look forward to a blind date beforehand, the less likely it will live up to the expectation.
But, so what? This crazy anticipation really is the funnest part of the merry-go-round.
I hope it snows.
Looking for tips, I came across some good advice online tonight:
Date Yourself.
Treat yourself as a good date would treat you, all the time.
I think that is excellent advice. And, a more universal version of my "be your own Genie."
For instance- I have two dates this week. On the first, a 2nd date, I am ice-skating, because the guy mentioned he was taking lessons - because women love to ice skate, and he wants to impress women with his moves. How sweet is that?
For the other date - a first date - the venue was left up to me. It's kinda a crazy story, but this guy is many many things. First of all, he's former Whistling Shrimp - meaning, he went to Cornell too (which we realized in our 2nd phone call- neither of us had it posted). The Whistling Shrimp are a rather funny improv group on campus, which I have actually paid to see.
In 1997, he was a senior in Mechanical engineering. Turns out, we've fought before. He actually threw snowballs at my head and feet that spring, as I and all the other 1st year architects held up the heavy tail of a dragon and tore it through a shoddy (and ugly) castle the engineers built, during the infamous Dragon Day Parade. He's hilarious. He's an investment banker. And, he lives in Connecticut.
Yeah, I'm breaking lots of my own rules. 1) Cornell engineers are like architects' mortal enemies. And, 2) I've mentioned what I think of bankers. And 3) the suburbs. But, he is too funny. And, I have an obligation to hit him in the feet with a snowball. So, there you have it.
It turns out, both of us are skipping out on our company holiday parties (which are of course, at the same time, on the same day) - to go out on a date with each other. I had to pick a suitable venue for this, & all the other bizarre coincidences.
Instead of thinking of what he would like, I decided to date myself, which is much easier. I chose this place , The (Seedy) Distinguished Wakamba Cocktail Lounge, which I have ALWAYS been curious about.
I don't know if I'm more excited about the bar, or the date. Right now it doesn't matter. Fact is, I'm up at 1 am blogging about a dude I've never met, and a bar I've never been to.
It's bad.
I'm breaking a 4th rule- I'm getting too excited. I know how these things go.. the more you look forward to a blind date beforehand, the less likely it will live up to the expectation.
But, so what? This crazy anticipation really is the funnest part of the merry-go-round.
I hope it snows.
Labels: dating, The Distinguished Wakamba Cocktail Lounge
