Saturday night out on the town

2/27/2010

I went to a Cuban restaurant with some friends. It was good.

However, the bathroom had several mirrors and a red light. It was really creepy.

Snow Day. Again...

I woke up this morning to an email, a missed call, a voice mail, and a text message from NYU telling me that classes have been canceled today.

If only my ex-boyfriend was that thorough. I would have known we were no longer together instead of dragging it out for 2 more (embarrassingly awkward) weeks.

Post Office Run, Mullet and All

2/25/2010

I got to see Terry again today. It was a joyous occasion. Today consisted of her comments on how the children love running around the post office because they have never seen red velvet cords that distinguish the line. In fact, they are always fascinated by everything like the 2 1/2 year old little girl that stuck her coat into the vending machine and her mom didn't know...

Terry, it was so great to see you again. Hopefully this picture does you more justice than the last.

A word of warning

Don't watch the Rachael Ray show at the gym, especially while she is cooking something. You will be hungry all day...

A Letter to the Subway

2/23/2010

Dear Subway train,

If you have decided to be out of service, please do not taunt awaiting passengers by driving past them on the local track. Instead, it would be appreciated if you use the center tracks that express trains use.

Sincerely,

A passenger just wanting to get home

Film Theory

Below you will find five minutes of a discussion from class. The man with the accent is our professor, Richard Allen. He and some other students got into a debate about the film theorist Benjamin (for those who are familiar with his works.) It would take way too long to even begin to explain what the debate is between but the emotion was evident and, thanks to my trusty phone, I was able to get some of it recorded. Granted, the quality is terrible but you'll get the point.

(For those who don't have five minutes, the best part is really the first minute.)

How to determine the success of a facebook event

Things to remember when creating a facebook event that will assist in determining the success of the said facebook event.

+You must have a good idea of how many people are going to attend. This allows for food preparation, seating availability, etc.

+Make sure your core people are available. Your core people include those you see on a regular basis. If they are in then that is all that matters for it is for them that the party is thrown.

*To send out a "feeler" text the day of creating the event or the day before to your core people is appropriate to get an idea of who would actually be interested. If the majority are interested then it is okay to proceed to creating the event on facebook and sending out invitations.

+Only 30% of the people you invite will actually respond.

+Out of the 30% that do respond, the ones that say yes are a pretty good indication of who will show. Some that say yes will end up not showing but it is okay because some of those that never actually responded will come.

+Out of those that did respond yes that are not part of your core group, many will arrive on time but leave earlier or will show up later. This is okay because it creates traffic and new faces so that guests will not get tired of talking to the same people. It also creates a dynamic environment through the movement.

+Keep in mind to have time for socializing while still having the main event. For example, providing social time at the beginning while guests are still arriving is important. Plan on having the main event an hour to an hour and a half after the event. This could be anything from making desserts, playing games, to watching movies.

The various things outlined will assist in knowing if your event will be successful. For every event, however, the definition of successful will vary according to the desired outcome. These are not hard-fast rules but mere suggestions to better understand the process of creating a facebook event.

What am I wearing?

2/20/2010

I was on my "emergency clothes" as I had to do laundry today. Imagine, if you will, a terrible t-shirt with mismatched shorts and socks that really-aren't-actually-socks-but-more-like-knee-high-tights. I got some really funny looks walking to the gym, especially since it is the middle of winter...

The Apple Store

The Apples store is on the right. The vendor on the left definitely knows how and where to do business.

Thursdays

Thursdays are always welcomed with open arms. It is the day my weekend begins. And by the time it gets here, it is needed. I always begin to breathe a sigh of relief around six as I'm on my way to my last class for the week. Come Thursday at ten, I'm free to collapse on my bed.

I may be in bed writing this as we speak...

I love Thursdays.

Today in History

2/17/2010

The Blaine Act ended Prohibition on February 17, 1933.

I celebrated by drinking a Peppermint Hot Chocolate from Starbucks.

Unions

We work/deal with various entertainment unions at work as most of our clients belong to at least one. We have to make sure they are keeping up on their memberships, paying the right amount of dues, receiving their income and any residuals that are owed them, etc. Some of the unions include the DG (Dramatist Guild), not to be confused with DGA (Directors Guild of America), SAG (Screen Actors Guild), and ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers).

The union that has probably confused me the most is ACTRA (as in the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television, and Radio Artists) not to be confused with ACTRA (American Cowboys Team Roping Association).

*WARNING* Whatever you do, don't call the latter and insist your client is a member. Cowboys can get a bit fussy.

Ignorant vanity?

It wasn't until today that I realized that every day when I get in the elevator at work, I look up. Why? Because the ceiling of the elevator is a mirror. I mean, I've known I do this. But today I actually became aware of it. I'll just take a quick look to make sure my hair looks decent before walking into the office or to see if my make-up happened to melt off my face ten minutes early. Or is it because I am vain? (Brittany, this last part was rhetorical.)



I'm so vain. I probably think this blog is about me.

Valentine's Day

Brittany is engaged! Congrats!



I washed a sinkful of dishes to celebrate :)

Sounds of the Subway

2/13/2010

Quintessential sounds of the New York Subway.



(You can't hear the accordion player very well so just imagine "A Whole New World" being played as well :))

Doctor's Office

2/12/2010

I had to go to the student health center today as I have some allergy issues that I'm trying to figure out. While there, I was intrigued by this lady. I had to get her voice down as a classic New Yorker.



At one point she was discussing the "snow storm" from Wednesday. She mentioned how every thing shut down when it didn't need to be. In her words (please imagine the voice heard from the secret recording), "Since when have we been a city of wooses. When I left work on Wednesday it was all slush."

As she was walking out she turned to me and said, referring to a couple that had been in the office earlier, "The boyfriend had too much to say. If he has too much to say now... it is only the start. I'd kill myself."

I love New Yorkers.

Explosion in midtown

This morning there was an explosion in midtown Manhattan on 19 W 6th Avenue. To give you an idea of where that is in relation to my life, I live on 25th street between 5th and 6th Avenues. The explosion was six blocks from my apartment. To give you an even better idea of where that was in relation to where I was, my work is located at 33 W 19th street. If you look at a map you will see that that is exactly around the corner from the explosion.

Here is a link to an article about it.

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local-beat/Firefighters-Battle-Transformer-Fire-on-6th-Avenue-84124907.html

The best part: I didn't even know until a client called us to see if we were okay. We didn't know anything had happened until then. As my boss said, "a typical New York day."


A picture of the rubble I took while at lunch.

P.S. An extra blog for those not yet bored with this post.

For several weeks now I have had the desire to switch gyms. I am not satisfied with the one I am currently at. Many times the machines are broken and the amenities are nothing to write home about. And, they don't even open on Saturdays until 9 am. I am an early morning exerciser and 9 am is just too late. Maybe I've been spoiled by past gyms but I don't find this one to my liking.

There is a closer gym, a 24 hour fitness, around the corner. It costs a bit more but the services are much more worth the buck. It is open 24 hours a day and I can use any 24 hour fitness center around the nation vs where I am at now and that they only have facilities in Manhattan.

One of the things that started the process of wanting to change happened a few weeks ago, on a Saturday. I decided to be at the gym around 9:30 am to give the Saturday rushers time to get comfortable with their equipment so I would feel less stressed. When I arrived, however, everyone was outside. The person who was suppose to open the gym didn't end up getting there until after 10 am. What kind of gym does that?!

Needless to say, there have been lots of little things that have made me want to switch.

If you look closely at the picture, you will notice a red sign that reads "Total Fitness". Yes, that is my gym. Let me leave you with the words of my roommate after she found out about the explosion:

Well...since our gym blew up I think this is a good time to join 24
hour fitness!! :)

Snow Day

Taken yesterday in anticipation of the "storm".


At noon today. Good thing nobody went to work...


6 pm: Hmmmm...


10 pm: Ya, a few inches. But, let's be honest, it is going to be much worse tomorrow when everything turns to ice. But you can't shut down a city because of ice.

I will say that I was glad for waterproof boots today. New York doesn't believe in drains so any slush or water stays in little pits on the road. These are usually next to side walks where people walk...

Happy Birthday to...us!

A guy from the yellowpages called work today to update our information. He started with an automatic dialogue that he was obviously reading off the screen. He made sure our information was correct and that we understood that he was providing a free service blah blah blah blah blah. In the end, he needed my name and birth date to verify the account so I told him, Ashley, April 14. He paused for a moment and then said, "April 14?"

I responded, "yes."

"Really. I talk to thousands of people everyday and you are the first person that has had the same birthday as me. Some are a few days before or a few days after. But never has anyone had my same birthday. Did you know that the Titanic sank on the fourteenth of April and that Lincoln was shot on the fourteenth of April? People think that is so depressing."

I told him that I have a twin sister with the same birthday...

Who is to blame?

Take a look at this picture. This is the door to the men's room at work. Imagine, if you will, the door is open. What do I see as I walk by? Urinals. I don't really want to see that, especially with them being used. Is it the engineer's fault? The architect? Really, I would have hoped in such a progressive society that someone could have thought to put the door hinges on the other side of the door...

Happy Birthday Charlye

Charlye, the big 2-1!

In celebration of figuring out how to post videos.

2/6/2010

1990s

2/5/2010

I watched Empire Records from 1995 tonight. And, I saw a man on the subway with a walkman. Also from 1995.

Warning

2/4/2010

DO NOT PUT FOOD ON YOUR KEYBOARD RIGHT AFTER A DISCUSSION WITH YOUR ROOMMATE (who is a Physician Assistant) ABOUT KEYBOARDS BEING UNSANITARY.

(She just informed me that she has sources.)

(She just said that I am now getting silly.)

(Now she won't say anything else because she knows I am typing her responses.)

(She just asked, "Who reads your blog anyway?")

(Silence.)

(She just stormed out of the room.)

5 Lessons

2/3/2010

1) If you decide to eat a fried Oreo with powdered sugar, do not take a bite by the door where the wind will blow the sugar off onto the person in front of you. At least she didn't notice.

2) Don't tell someone "you's a bum and you's need a real job" without reflecting on your own life and education.

3) Don't go without socks in the winter. This has nothing to do with the cold. It has everything to do with the fact that your shoes don't fit as nicely on your feet so when walking, and your shoe gets caught on your pants, it will most likely fly off.

4) If the said event happens, don't think about it while continuing to walk and then wondering how it happened. It will, inevitably, happen again.

5) Don't forget your pin to the ATM, especially when you are with a group of friends going to get dessert. The bank won't give you the pin over the phone...

A, B, C, 1, 2, 3...

When you don't have a car, it is much easier to not have to worry about addresses. However, with New York as it is, I now have to remember floors...

Tuesdays are specifically hard to remember. I go to work, go to the bank (for work), go to school, and go home. How do I remember which floor to go to? It has happened that I have gotten off on the wrong floor before.

Solution for Tuesdays:

Work: Floor 4
Bank: Floor 5
School: Flor 6
Home: Floor 4

4, 5, 6 and then back to the beginning :D

(Yes, it has taken me 5 months to come up with the solution to my confusion. But the confusion now has a solution and that is all I care about.)

Good ridance January

I've never liked January. It's the Monday of the year.

Catherine Cook