28 Days Later

Now that I'm no longer on my death bed (read: hungover) faced with extreme physical discomfort, I can go back to focusing on my favorite type of anguish: mental and psychological. I'm gonna be honest and say that the novelty of being in New York has officially worn off. In it's place is a big fat solid mound of "uh oh". I have trouble sleeping at night because all I can think about is how I am unemployed and in a few short weeks, possibly homeless. I even thought about moving back home to SF but then I realized that would be admitting defeat and I would only be running away because things got a little tough. Like Dr. Cox said to J.D. on Scrubs "Nothing in life worth having is ever easy." The only problem is that I'm not so sure how worth IT is.

Chicken or Egg/ Apartment or Job?

I don't know what should come first. So far, I have neither and both are turning out to be harder to acquire than I had anticipated. I'm trying my best not to freak out. In the meantime, I'm making myself feel better by watching Disney's High School Musical, reading the new Harry Potter, and writing cover letter after cover letter. Oh yeah and I posted a personal ad on Craigslist. HAHA. My ad was just for fun but for some reason it got flagged and removed after a few short hours. I'm guessing some jealous biatch felt threatened because I'm a Seinfeld, Scrabble lovin' librarian. Anyway, the 50 or so responses I got were pretty amusing.

Also ate at Justin Timberlake's new BBQ restaurant Southern Hospitality. JT was not there but our server was named Justin and a hottie. The food was decent but definitely no reason to go back especially since there's no happy hour. Lame!

I really wanted to buy these cheeseballs from Costco but thought better of it.

Saturday went to Coney Island again. It was a perfect beach day.

A lady bug in Anne's hair.

Some ride at Coney island.

R2D2 mailbox on the Upper East Side. I think it's to commemorate Star War stamps.

I'm not a (CHEAP) plastic bag

Honestly, what won't I stand in line for? Yesterday, I got to the Whole Foods at The Bowery at 5:40am and was greeted by a mega fat ass line of Asians who apparently are die hard tote bag fanatics and waited in line overnight! I was a bit worried about my chances of getting my hands on this tote bag but that was the least of my worries after an hour in line. Around 7, the light sprinkles began. Maybe 10 minutes later, the torrential downpour began as well as the lightning and thunderous thunder. Did I have an umbrella? Of course not but the lady in front of me was nice enough to let me stand under hers. But she also had a friend with her and three of us under that thing wasn't gonna cut it so I bought a garbage bag from the deli for fifty cents (they ran out of umbrellas) and covered myself with that. And no, the irony was not lost on me. I bought a plastic bag while standing in line for the "I'm not a plastic bag". Yup.
It really could not have been worse. I've stood in many a line but never while holding a garbage bag over myself while rain splattered on my head. My toes were super shriveled, my clothes were wet, and I was quite sure pneumonia was setting in. Long story short, the doors opened at 8am and an hour later, I was paying the cashier for my three tote bags. It was still raining so I had to walk home being extra careful my tote bags didn't get wet.
So was it worth it? We shall see. My eBay auction ends in 17 minutes!!!!

I'm guessing the line was mostly Asian because we were near Chinatown because on the news, the Columbus Circle Whole Foods line was mostly white.

Still trying to decide if I should keep one for me. The sight of it still brings back painful memories. The Whole Foods lady told me The Bowery location had three thousand bags and everyone was buying the maximum of three each. Of course they ran out so that means I was in line with a thousand other people. Crazy!

Nina's Playground

Unlike the "Sex and Candy" song by Marcy's Playground, Nina's Playground is more along the lines of "Sweat and French Fries". Yeah, my combo's not as sexy but it's real dammit.

This is definitely an interesting time in my life. I'm not sure where I pictured myself at 26 but for sure I didn't think I would be in New York looking over the "etc." jobs on Craigslist wondering if I have the stamina to be a dog walker on the Upper East Side or contemplating just how attached I am to my eggs.

I feel like Kramer. I think I am Kramer. Don't get me wrong. I love, love, love being in New York, sweat and all, but it's just a funny feeling to have graduated from grad school at UCLA and to be unemployed. I swear I went through this four years ago. Maybe that's because I did go through this four years ago except this time, I know exactly what I want to do, I'm just waiting for the right opportunity to come along.

Everyone and their mom forwarded this article in the NY Times about hip librarians to me. Maybe one day I can join their tattooed, income earning ranks.

Thankfully, summertime in New York has an endless array of free events and cheap happy hours for the young and unemployed. I've been busying myself with free concerts and $2 PBR.

There was finally a day of reprieve from the humidity which meant I could actually step outside and enjoy the day. New Yorkers sunbathe in the park. Such a strange concept.

One of the free events. CitySol festival by the East River.

Thanks to buddy Shaneeza and her dad's season tickets, I got to watch the Mets beat the Reds today. For free seats, I still managed to spend $20. It's a crime that they charge $7.25 for Miller Lite. Geez.

You Know You're A New Yorker When...

you're standing in line at Costco and you realize crap, Costco doesn't have paper bags so instead you cram your trail mix, hummus, bag salad, and rotisserie chicken into your Marc Jacobs tote which you never seem to leave home without these days because being a New Yorker means lugging around your possessions all day.

All the more reason to stand in line for the "I'm not a plastic bag " bag available at Whole Foods on Wednesday. And you better believe I'm going to buy three of them and then sell the extras on eBay for an exorbitant amount to those unfortunate enough not to live in LA or NY.

The First Week

Am sitting nude in my apartment eating a plate of brie, olives, apples, and crackers while Backstreet Boys plays on the radio. Is this the new sassy New York Nina? Not really. It's the hot as balls New York Nina. The AC is on energy saver mode but it has yet to turn off intermittently like it's supposed to so am considering turning it off but am afraid I might melt in the process.
I'd like to point out that the brie I'm eating is a $2 15oz wheel of cheese from East Village Cheese. Anne told me about this place so I bought the wheel yesterday and ate almost a third of it.

New York is really great. I'm not sure what else to say. Instead I'll express myself in the only way I know how (Crystal and Wes, the new camera is really fabulous!):

Sunday July 1st

My hood. Waiting in line for brunch with Anne. I had just arrived seven hours earlier.

New York really loves brunch and so does Nina. I think this place had a $10.95 brunch special with mimosa/bloody marys.

Central Park Summerstage. One of the many, many, many free NYC summer events.

Anne at the Bamn automat.

Everything is $2.00 which is actually a ripoff for NY since I could get a slice of pizza for that.

But for fun's sake, I got fried mac n' cheese.

Monday July 2nd

Since I have nothing to do, Anne thought it would be a good idea if I waited in line (alone) for Shakespeare in the Park tickets. Luckily for Anne, I actually don't mind waiting in line and might even make a living out of it. The performance was later on that night and it really was THE perfect night to be outside watching Shakespeare in Central Park.

The new NYPL branch on Mulberry St. Very cute! I went here for free Internet before I realized how to get wireless on mine.

Indian place with requisite lights everywhere.

Tuesday July 3rd

I thought LA had a lot of fancy pants ice cream places but NY definitely has its share. This place had something called yoggi which tasted just like Pinkberry but with a thicker consistency.

Yummy!

Wednesday July 4th

Anne and I trekked out to Coney Island on 4th of July to watch people scarf down hotdogs.

This dude was super excited when America aka Joey Chestnut won.

They already started the countdown for next year. Geez, let Chestnut revel a little.

Pat on the back to Anne for riding the Cyclone with me which was way fun and super intense for a roller coaster built in 1927.

We were troopers for laying out on Coney Island beach when clearly, it was not a beach day.

The fireworks came through despite the rain.

Friday July 6th


Kwik E Mart in Times Square.

I was quite happy with my squishee.

Saturday July 7th

Pizza from John's on Bleeker. Now I just have to eat at Grimaldi's to complete the trio of New York pizzas (Lombardi's, John's, and Grimaldi's).

Sunday July 8th

A "make your own burger" place. If it were up to me, it would be called burgers&cupcakes&fries&nachos oh and pizza too.

If it seems like all I've been doing since I got to New York is eat, well, that's because that is all I've been doing. Hopefully, by next week I'll find out if I got the temp job I applied for (fingers crossed and using The Secret).