Day seven of my trip to NYC! I'm having a fantastic time, even though I pretty much just work and go home for the night. I like it though. There will be plenty of other times to visit and sight-see. Today is my first day off, but I'm unsure of what to do. I kind of want to just laze about which is awful. Last night I watched An Affair to Remember and kept thinking "you should be OUT having an affair to remember not IN watching one on TV!" Alas, 'twas not the case! lol.

I have gone out and done some fun things. My friend JT and I met up on Thursday for dinner at this sort of gay campy restaurant called VYNL and then coffee at a place called Soy afterward. It was a good time. The food is delicious here! It all seems so fresh and tasty! I stop at my favorite food place from London about every day, called Pret. They have them here and I was so happy to find several on my way to work. Everything is freshly prepared and they try to use organic etc. DELICIOUS!

I'm working in the fashion district, which is amazing. So many stores for every kind of fabric all over the place. I'm not far from Broadway, 42nd Street, The Empire State Building or any of it. Kind of right in the heart of it all!

I wasn't sure before coming here that I would like the city; perhaps it would be overwhelming or scary or something, but I really do like it. I think the trick is not to psych yourself out. Don't act like it's a huge place or whatever. I think it's tons better to act blase about it than to be starry-eyed etc. I'm not a tourist at heart either. I actually tend to be a pretty apathetic tourist. I don't swell up at seeing all of the landmarks everyone else travels to mecca to see! I've seen them in pictures etc, and while those aren't the same as the real thing I know what they look like so it's not a big deal. It is impressive to witness the actual size of things in person, but I don't know, it's just not a big deal to me. I get more of a kick out of pretending like I hail from the place I'm visiting and watching how people live. I like to blend in. I also like doing things on my own. I decided since I was to be alone last night that I would walk down to the grocery we had visited my first night and get some things for myself. I find pleasure in finding my way somewhere, like an adventure. The whole time I wasn't completely sure I was going the correct way, sure I had missed a turn or something, but I found it! Quite a few blocks and several grocery stores later! haha. But I wanted to go to THAT one. lol.

Something I've noticed about this city, which I can't explain, is the pace and how it drags you along. Every morning I have left Rachel's apartment later than the day before it and each day I arrive at my stop for work earlier, thus leaving more time for me to kill. I try my hardest to slow down, walk slower, eat slower etc. but it's like my body is tuned into this pulse that is surging around me and I can't help but give-in to the tempo of life here. It's quite amazing. In London, people wanted to get places etc, but there was an air of nonchalance about it. No one seemed harried or hurried, just calm and placid; knowing they would reach their destination when they did. Two completely different energies, but I love them both! I think London still suits me best. I am after all a fairly "take it as it comes" kind of person even though sometimes my life is very "Go! Go! Go!" like New York. Idk. Perhaps I'll have both someday!

As far as people I have met are concerned, I enjoy them. Rachel's husband Jon has become a fast friend. I can see why they are married. They complement each other amazingly. Their home is very nice, and very them. I enjoy it. It's comfortable and stylish in its own way.

My coworkers, all two of them, are fun people. Anna, the cutter/draper, is a bit of an odd duck, but she's completely kind and helpful. There have been times where I haven't known how to do something and instead of using censure like "You don't know how to do this?!" she'll ask if I know how and then explain it if I need the instruction. I appreciate that. Some people just expect you to know and think you're an idiot if you don't. It's simply that, no one knows everything, and there are certain techniques or finishes that people don't have much use for. Niki, the shop manager and boss, is also odd, but in a different way. I can't really describe her. She's one of those people whom you can't tell if they love you or hate you. She reminds me of Emily Blunt's character Prudie in The Jane Austen Book Club. I think she likes me though. I mean, she talks to me and we joke etc. I think if she hated me it would just be all business. IDK though...ha. The designer, Devon Painter, is quirky and fun. I've only interacted with her a bit , but I like her. She's sassy and F-U-N! And she definitely appreciates gumption and hard work. They were in a fitting and she had been looking for a bag of fabric in order to make ties for an apron I was making, and I didn't want to interrupt when it came time to put them on, so I went looking for it myself and found it. She was so pleased that I had done that, when it really just seemed like a natural thing to do, to me. I'm glad that she seems to like me. People usually tell me I have a natural way of endearing myself to people. Don't ask me how, though I believe it's just because I am myself. I don't play games, I just do it.

The costume shop is smaller than what I expected, but it's nice. There's plenty of natural light which is amazing. I couldn't believe after working on an industrial machine that I had gotten so worked up about it before making my way out here. I was completely stressed. I thought I was giving myself an ulcer, my stomach hurt for two days straight. They're really nothing to worry about. They go a bit faster and they don't have as many bells and whistles but I actually prefer them now.

I'm meeting my friend Devin for coffee tonight, finally! I can't believe how hard it is to get people to commit to something around here. To be fair, she's in the middle of finals, but we were all settled on a time and place and then "could we change it?" etc. The same thing happened with JT too, but I'll see them both which is good. It would have been ridiculous to get all the way out here and not see either of them. Other than that, I don't have a lot of plans. We may do some museums today, but I'm not sure. Rachel and Jon are still sleeping, but in all fairness she asked what time I was going to get up and I said whenever. So she said they weren't setting an alarm and I don't blame them. She worked hard all week so she deserves to sleep. If I could have kept sleeping I would have, but I usually reach a limit where I can't do it anymore and I just get up. That was around 9:30 maybe. There's always tomorrow too, and Monday and Tuesday night. To be honest though, when I got the job, this trip changed from being pleasure to business. I don't want to be worn out in the morning trying to work and not kill myself on the industrial, so I don't go out or stay up late and it's okay.

I'm actually dreading my departure on Wednesday morning. Getting all of my stuff here, of which I packed WAY too much was hellish. It was raining and my things were heavy. My pants kept riding down my butt and my glasses were fogged. Not fun! So it's with trepidation that I think about that early morning trek to the airport. I think may just get a taxi to take me. I haven't used one yet and I'm allowed to be a little extravagant. I am on vacation. I just want to try to save as much money as possible. I'm horrible with that. Once I get a little I spend like I have a lot! And I owe my mother a considerable amount. However, all of that will be settled. I now have another job lined up for February. I am going to DC to work as an over-hire stitcher in my friend's costume shop on his department's production of Romeo and Juliet. It's good pay; they're also providing housing and paying for airfare! How about that! I'm coming up in the world. After that I can continue helping at UM Flint's costume shop, I have Beauty and the Beast for Port Huron Civic Theatre that goes up in May, the BHP for the summer hopefully (there's some drama there (no pun) about the building etc. a big mess), and then tentatively a design project lined up that reaches its completion next fall in Flint. So I've got work coming right along and the best part about it is, I didn't have to go looking for any of it. They pretty much all came to me! Gotta love it! Now hopefully I can save some of that money! And let's not forget tax returns! haha.

However, I digress. The weather has been pleasant. Somewhat cold occasionally, but nothing like what I'm sure Michigan has experienced for the last week. I have gone out several days without a coat, though considering my track record, for me that's not very shocking. haha. The days seem to be getting longer, maybe. I know they are but it felt noticeable on Tuesday, I can't tell you why.

In any case, I obviously haven't much to speak of since I'm writing of the weather so I guess that's it. Phoenix on Wednesday for a week, home on the 3rd and through the 7th when I leave for D.C. until the 27th! Can't wait!