Just bear with me...I wasn't sure if there would be a countdown or if they would just turn it on so I videotaped the a bit early. :-)
Friday, December 18, 2009
3 Month Evaluation
I thought this would be an appropriate time to make a list about things that I miss about Nashville and love about New York. Obviously, my friends and family and said boyfriend go without saying. These are more tangible things...
NASHVILLE
1. The radio. I realize that I could listen online but it's not the same.
2. Rosepepper
3. Predators hockey games
4. Being able to control the temperature of my apartment
5. Humidity...Yes, ladies, I said it. I committed the mortal sin and said that I miss humidity. You try living with steam heat in a dry, cold climate and see what it does to your skin. I would rather have a frizzy fro' then an itchy rash!
6. My own washer and dryer
7. Yazoo
8. Mafiosa (sp?) - I've tried lots of pizza here but none of it can compare
9. Not always feeling under-dressed. Everywhere you look in New York, people look amazing. I just can't compete (nor do I want to!).
10. Having a microwave - I realize 2 things here 1. They're cheap and we could just buy one and 2. This goes against my excitement for a tea kettle. Each of these points are valid but the microwave stays on the list for the time being.
11. My hair stylist
12. FAMILIARITY! (food, bars, roads, buildings, stores, etc)
13. My car, driving, etc.
14. Knowing someone or knowing someone who knows someone who is involved with everything that happens in Nashville.
15. A dishwasher
16. Cheap everything. Beer, food, wine...well, those are the staples at least. And by cheap, I mean financially cheap not quality cheap.
17. People talking to strangers. I wanted to give a lady my extra coupon at Bath & Body Works the other day and she looked at me like I was crazy and going to rob her!
NEW YORK
1. The access to a $25 spa mani/pedi
2. Delivery anything...Thai, Chinese, Mexican, laundry, liquor, etc.
3. Never having to get out in the rain or cold to fill my car with gas
4. Gas cooking. Love it!
5. My tea kettle. I realize that I could have had one of these in Nashville but I had a microwave so it didn't seem like a necessity. Now I have one and I love it. It's confirmed...I'm a dork.
6. Strangers
7. Christmas lights, store windows, parades, events, holiday markets, etc.
8. Flea markets - Trendy flea markets, local flea markets, cheap flea markets, hand made everything flea markets. Take your pick.
9. Free movie Tuesday
10. Reading on the train
11. The ease of access to anywhere in the northeast. Seriously, I can go to DC, round trip for under $10.
12. The shopping goes without even needing to be said
13. Celebrity and Dredyl - These came into my life since being in New York
14. Lots of visitors!
15. Cheap airfare and three airports to choose from!
I'm sure that I'll add to this list as things come to me too but it's a good start. I think it's good to do this...I wouldn't have thought that the lists would have been so even but I guess that's where the friend factor comes in and weighs heavily on the miss Nashville side. I'll see you tomorrow with arms wide open Nashvegas!
NASHVILLE
1. The radio. I realize that I could listen online but it's not the same.
2. Rosepepper
3. Predators hockey games
4. Being able to control the temperature of my apartment
5. Humidity...Yes, ladies, I said it. I committed the mortal sin and said that I miss humidity. You try living with steam heat in a dry, cold climate and see what it does to your skin. I would rather have a frizzy fro' then an itchy rash!
6. My own washer and dryer
7. Yazoo
8. Mafiosa (sp?) - I've tried lots of pizza here but none of it can compare
9. Not always feeling under-dressed. Everywhere you look in New York, people look amazing. I just can't compete (nor do I want to!).
10. Having a microwave - I realize 2 things here 1. They're cheap and we could just buy one and 2. This goes against my excitement for a tea kettle. Each of these points are valid but the microwave stays on the list for the time being.
11. My hair stylist
12. FAMILIARITY! (food, bars, roads, buildings, stores, etc)
13. My car, driving, etc.
14. Knowing someone or knowing someone who knows someone who is involved with everything that happens in Nashville.
15. A dishwasher
16. Cheap everything. Beer, food, wine...well, those are the staples at least. And by cheap, I mean financially cheap not quality cheap.
17. People talking to strangers. I wanted to give a lady my extra coupon at Bath & Body Works the other day and she looked at me like I was crazy and going to rob her!
NEW YORK
1. The access to a $25 spa mani/pedi
2. Delivery anything...Thai, Chinese, Mexican, laundry, liquor, etc.
3. Never having to get out in the rain or cold to fill my car with gas
4. Gas cooking. Love it!
5. My tea kettle. I realize that I could have had one of these in Nashville but I had a microwave so it didn't seem like a necessity. Now I have one and I love it. It's confirmed...I'm a dork.
6. Strangers
7. Christmas lights, store windows, parades, events, holiday markets, etc.
8. Flea markets - Trendy flea markets, local flea markets, cheap flea markets, hand made everything flea markets. Take your pick.
9. Free movie Tuesday
10. Reading on the train
11. The ease of access to anywhere in the northeast. Seriously, I can go to DC, round trip for under $10.
12. The shopping goes without even needing to be said
13. Celebrity and Dredyl - These came into my life since being in New York
14. Lots of visitors!
15. Cheap airfare and three airports to choose from!
I'm sure that I'll add to this list as things come to me too but it's a good start. I think it's good to do this...I wouldn't have thought that the lists would have been so even but I guess that's where the friend factor comes in and weighs heavily on the miss Nashville side. I'll see you tomorrow with arms wide open Nashvegas!
Yesterday
So I realize that it's been WAY too long since I did this but yesterday was such a random/hilarious/new york day that I wanted to share. This is what I intended this blog for anyway.
1. I'm walking home from picking up some last minute gifts. I just got off the subway and am in our neighborhood, probably 2 blocks from home. I'm walking one of those walks with an extra pep in my step. Christmas shopping is done. I'm going to Nashville in two days. I can't wait for Christmas. You know, that walk. When all of a sudden, I look up and can't even believe what I'm seeing. There is a man, not 10 feet in front of me, going into one of our local bodegas. And what you may ask is so crazy about this man...he's carrying not 1, not 2 but THREE very dead, very skinned, very young, GOATSSSSSS over his shoulder! Seriously, I realize that meat has to get into places somehow but I always imagined that it came into stores via cute little, shrink wrapped packages! This blew my mind. Here is this guy on the street, making his daily or weekly delivery of dead, skinned goats!!! And of course, their head's/eyes were facing me and just kind of bobbing by.
2. It's laundry day for the McIntyre-Moss's. Typically, Nat would do laundry if he had an afternoon or day off during the week but he's been so busy with work that this wasn't an option. So we pack up the 2 biggest suitcases that we have and head off (we don't do laundry as often as we probably should!). We get there, load the machine (by the way, they have a $5.00 machine that literally fits both of our suitcases of clothes...who knew). And ladies, you maybe asking yourself about my delicate stuff...I just do that at home by hand. Underwear, sheets, towels, pjs, tshirts, etc. is all that makes it to the $5.00 universal bin! Anyway, we then head off to grab some food while that is going. I don't want Chinese because I've been eating Chinese leftovers for 3 days now so we walk down to try out a Mexican restaurant (I use the term restaurant loosely here...they mainly do deliveries) that we've seen but never tried. We go in...I order a Chicken Taco Salad and Nat gets a burrito. We order salsa and chips, get our Diet Cokes, tell them it's to-go and pay. Everything up until this point seems very normal. Then Nat very casually leans over and makes the very candid observation...."Hey babe", he says, "do you think it's kind of strange that we just ordered Mexican food in a Mexican restaurant from all Chinese people." Yes, that's right.
3. Now the kicker. Nat leaves before our food is ready to check on our clothes. I get the to-go food...it's packed like typical to-go food in a large, white, plastic bag that is tied at the top. I'm heading back to the laundromat and crossing over the main street that we have in Kensington. I mean, this is literally the biggest, busiest intersection in town (most of you can probably see where this is going). As I cross the street and am almost to the other side, it happens. The plastic on my heel hits the pavement wrong and all of a sudden, I'm doing a Grade-A, Major face dive into the concrete. Fortunately, I was able to save my face with the to-go bag of food. As my knees crash into the road that happens to be the busiest intersection in Kensington, my face crashed into our chips and salsa! Of course, I hop up like nothing happened because this embarrassment is too much to handle. Two very nice guys approach me first and ask if I'm ok and then after I take a few steps, another guy comes up to make sure I am ok. Of course, I laugh it off, thank them and try to courageously head on. It takes about 10 steps to really realize the extent of my injury. I'm walking with a limp. Very small tears have welled up in my eyes and I just want to get back to Nat for some sympathy!! That's about it for that story. I have a huge bruise/knot on my knee and can't bend or straighten it out all the way without some pain but this too shall pass.
The good news...this made for a great blog post after a long lack of new posts!
1. I'm walking home from picking up some last minute gifts. I just got off the subway and am in our neighborhood, probably 2 blocks from home. I'm walking one of those walks with an extra pep in my step. Christmas shopping is done. I'm going to Nashville in two days. I can't wait for Christmas. You know, that walk. When all of a sudden, I look up and can't even believe what I'm seeing. There is a man, not 10 feet in front of me, going into one of our local bodegas. And what you may ask is so crazy about this man...he's carrying not 1, not 2 but THREE very dead, very skinned, very young, GOATSSSSSS over his shoulder! Seriously, I realize that meat has to get into places somehow but I always imagined that it came into stores via cute little, shrink wrapped packages! This blew my mind. Here is this guy on the street, making his daily or weekly delivery of dead, skinned goats!!! And of course, their head's/eyes were facing me and just kind of bobbing by.
2. It's laundry day for the McIntyre-Moss's. Typically, Nat would do laundry if he had an afternoon or day off during the week but he's been so busy with work that this wasn't an option. So we pack up the 2 biggest suitcases that we have and head off (we don't do laundry as often as we probably should!). We get there, load the machine (by the way, they have a $5.00 machine that literally fits both of our suitcases of clothes...who knew). And ladies, you maybe asking yourself about my delicate stuff...I just do that at home by hand. Underwear, sheets, towels, pjs, tshirts, etc. is all that makes it to the $5.00 universal bin! Anyway, we then head off to grab some food while that is going. I don't want Chinese because I've been eating Chinese leftovers for 3 days now so we walk down to try out a Mexican restaurant (I use the term restaurant loosely here...they mainly do deliveries) that we've seen but never tried. We go in...I order a Chicken Taco Salad and Nat gets a burrito. We order salsa and chips, get our Diet Cokes, tell them it's to-go and pay. Everything up until this point seems very normal. Then Nat very casually leans over and makes the very candid observation...."Hey babe", he says, "do you think it's kind of strange that we just ordered Mexican food in a Mexican restaurant from all Chinese people." Yes, that's right.
3. Now the kicker. Nat leaves before our food is ready to check on our clothes. I get the to-go food...it's packed like typical to-go food in a large, white, plastic bag that is tied at the top. I'm heading back to the laundromat and crossing over the main street that we have in Kensington. I mean, this is literally the biggest, busiest intersection in town (most of you can probably see where this is going). As I cross the street and am almost to the other side, it happens. The plastic on my heel hits the pavement wrong and all of a sudden, I'm doing a Grade-A, Major face dive into the concrete. Fortunately, I was able to save my face with the to-go bag of food. As my knees crash into the road that happens to be the busiest intersection in Kensington, my face crashed into our chips and salsa! Of course, I hop up like nothing happened because this embarrassment is too much to handle. Two very nice guys approach me first and ask if I'm ok and then after I take a few steps, another guy comes up to make sure I am ok. Of course, I laugh it off, thank them and try to courageously head on. It takes about 10 steps to really realize the extent of my injury. I'm walking with a limp. Very small tears have welled up in my eyes and I just want to get back to Nat for some sympathy!! That's about it for that story. I have a huge bruise/knot on my knee and can't bend or straighten it out all the way without some pain but this too shall pass.
The good news...this made for a great blog post after a long lack of new posts!
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Car vs. Subway
I had two very opposing thoughts the other day. I was on my way to meet Nat for our weekly "Free movie Tuesday" courtesy of Cablevision. I was on the subway and I'm finally getting to the point where I feel comfortable enough with the knowledge of our stops to listen to my ipod. I know this seems simple enough...listen to your ipod WHILE you pay attention to your stops. But you don't realize the power of music until you become entranced with a song, series of songs or play list and literally blow by your stop. Trust me, it happens. It happens enough that I was literally warned by fellow friends and New Yorkers that I probably wasn't "ready" to start listening to my ipod yet.
That being said, it's like Day 2 of subway ipod listening and I'm jamming out to my newest infatuation of songs: "Gravity" by Sara Bareilles, "You're Not Sorry" by Taylor Swift, "Paparazzi" by Gaga, "Need You Now" by Lady Antebellum, "Happy" by Leona Lewis and "Run This Town" by Jay-Z & Rihanna, when I realize how much I 1) want to sing out loud and 2) miss the mini-concerts that get to take place when you have the freedom of a car. Now anyone who has had the pleasure of hearing me sing, knows that I should WITHOUT A DOUBT keep my concerts to the confines of my car but there is a joy that I never appreciated or really realized about singing freely and uninhibited in a car. So for all you Nashvillians, sing loud and proud for me today!
Where is the opposing thought you ask? Subways give you a unique time to think, process, stress, worry, create, explore, etc. So thought #1 (above) comes and goes and I move on to thought #2. I'm looking around me, listening to my tunes and for the first time since I moved here, really appreciating the spectrum and beauty of human interaction that I am surrounded with. In one subway station, subway car and walk to the movies, I experienced a young couple, all dressed up on their way to a play, date, gathering, etc. A father sitting next to me as his daughter curled up and fell asleep in his lap. An older couple walking down the street and holding hands. A very new couple, flirting with each other, rubbing noses and laughing the way you do when you just start to fall in love and still want to laugh "cute". A couple (seasoned couple I'm imagining) fighting on the sidewalk. A man by himself that decided to dance and sing to his music without concern (unlike me) that anyone else was around. And it goes on and on. A couple just leaving the gym with their protein shakes and super trendy work out clothes. People in a hurry, people dressed up, dressed down, dressed crazy. A model walking into a basement bar to work that night.
It wasn't until I shared both of these thoughts with Nat that I realized how opposing they are. I wouldn't have shared a space with a 1/4 of the people that I did that night if I was in my car. But I would have been singing out loud!!
That being said, it's like Day 2 of subway ipod listening and I'm jamming out to my newest infatuation of songs: "Gravity" by Sara Bareilles, "You're Not Sorry" by Taylor Swift, "Paparazzi" by Gaga, "Need You Now" by Lady Antebellum, "Happy" by Leona Lewis and "Run This Town" by Jay-Z & Rihanna, when I realize how much I 1) want to sing out loud and 2) miss the mini-concerts that get to take place when you have the freedom of a car. Now anyone who has had the pleasure of hearing me sing, knows that I should WITHOUT A DOUBT keep my concerts to the confines of my car but there is a joy that I never appreciated or really realized about singing freely and uninhibited in a car. So for all you Nashvillians, sing loud and proud for me today!
Where is the opposing thought you ask? Subways give you a unique time to think, process, stress, worry, create, explore, etc. So thought #1 (above) comes and goes and I move on to thought #2. I'm looking around me, listening to my tunes and for the first time since I moved here, really appreciating the spectrum and beauty of human interaction that I am surrounded with. In one subway station, subway car and walk to the movies, I experienced a young couple, all dressed up on their way to a play, date, gathering, etc. A father sitting next to me as his daughter curled up and fell asleep in his lap. An older couple walking down the street and holding hands. A very new couple, flirting with each other, rubbing noses and laughing the way you do when you just start to fall in love and still want to laugh "cute". A couple (seasoned couple I'm imagining) fighting on the sidewalk. A man by himself that decided to dance and sing to his music without concern (unlike me) that anyone else was around. And it goes on and on. A couple just leaving the gym with their protein shakes and super trendy work out clothes. People in a hurry, people dressed up, dressed down, dressed crazy. A model walking into a basement bar to work that night.
It wasn't until I shared both of these thoughts with Nat that I realized how opposing they are. I wouldn't have shared a space with a 1/4 of the people that I did that night if I was in my car. But I would have been singing out loud!!
Monday, November 9, 2009
Blogger Block
This is my first case of it. I want to write and share and for some reason, can't come up with or can't decide what to write. Nat suggested that I just get something on paper so here goes...
1. We had our first Broadway play date night a couple weeks ago. So Nat is teaching for a company called TDF (Theater Development Fund). They are also the same company that runs the TKTS booths (Unfortunately we get no special access or discounts :-(). He got assigned to teach a new Broadway play called FELA!. In order to teach it, he obviously has to go see it so he convinced them to give him 2 tickets and we put it on our calendar. We were very excited! So originally, we were suppose to see it on October 23. October 23 comes and goes. We lounge around all night, prepare for our apartment warming party, watch tv, play Wii and go to bed. Next day, apartment warming party starts and I hear someone talking about another Broadway play that they saw. That's when it hits me....we COMPLETELY forgot to go see FELA! Seriously, F.O.R.G.O.T. How does that even happen? And to top it off, we literally sat around all night on Friday. Long story short, Nat tells a slightly exaggerated story so that 1) he doesn't lose his job before it begins and 2) we get tickets to go see it again.
We finally went to the show the following Tuesday, October 27 and let me say, it was AMAZING! I had no idea (except for what I read on their website) what it was going to be about. It's basically a play that is set in the last night of Fela Kuti's club, The Shrine, in Nigeria. Fela created an amazing style of music called Afrobeat. He was also a huge human rights activist, had 27 wives and formed a republic in Nigeria that he declared completely independent from the Nigerian State. It was pretty amazing. TONS of energy and singing and dance and awesomeness and crowd participation. Since it's fairly new to Broadway, tickets will most likely be discounted at the TKTS booths for some time. I would really suggest seeing it if you're in town.
2. I saw my first fight on the Subway. Between 2 women. At 10 am. Seriously. I was on my way to my first client meeting in the city and the two women, literally sitting across from me, starting yelling at each other. The train was pretty crowded and apparently woman A (as I will call her) coughed or sneezed and didn't cover her mouth/nose. Now woman B had her 2 kids with her and that obviously didn't sit well. She turned to woman A and told her that she needs to cover her mouth next time. Woman A protested and declared that she did cover her mouth and that Woman B should mind her own business. From there, it just proceeded to escalate (all while Woman B's two kids sat quietly next to her). Woman B is yelling and at one point says "You better watch what you say because you never know when you're going to run into a crazy person. And I'm a crazy bitch!" They continued to yell for another couple stops. Once they were done, they both turned in their seats, woman A started reading her paper, woman B started talking to her kids and it was over. Neither one moved their seats or acted like anything happened. Note to self: always cover your mouth/nose on the Subway!
1. We had our first Broadway play date night a couple weeks ago. So Nat is teaching for a company called TDF (Theater Development Fund). They are also the same company that runs the TKTS booths (Unfortunately we get no special access or discounts :-(). He got assigned to teach a new Broadway play called FELA!. In order to teach it, he obviously has to go see it so he convinced them to give him 2 tickets and we put it on our calendar. We were very excited! So originally, we were suppose to see it on October 23. October 23 comes and goes. We lounge around all night, prepare for our apartment warming party, watch tv, play Wii and go to bed. Next day, apartment warming party starts and I hear someone talking about another Broadway play that they saw. That's when it hits me....we COMPLETELY forgot to go see FELA! Seriously, F.O.R.G.O.T. How does that even happen? And to top it off, we literally sat around all night on Friday. Long story short, Nat tells a slightly exaggerated story so that 1) he doesn't lose his job before it begins and 2) we get tickets to go see it again.
We finally went to the show the following Tuesday, October 27 and let me say, it was AMAZING! I had no idea (except for what I read on their website) what it was going to be about. It's basically a play that is set in the last night of Fela Kuti's club, The Shrine, in Nigeria. Fela created an amazing style of music called Afrobeat. He was also a huge human rights activist, had 27 wives and formed a republic in Nigeria that he declared completely independent from the Nigerian State. It was pretty amazing. TONS of energy and singing and dance and awesomeness and crowd participation. Since it's fairly new to Broadway, tickets will most likely be discounted at the TKTS booths for some time. I would really suggest seeing it if you're in town.
2. I saw my first fight on the Subway. Between 2 women. At 10 am. Seriously. I was on my way to my first client meeting in the city and the two women, literally sitting across from me, starting yelling at each other. The train was pretty crowded and apparently woman A (as I will call her) coughed or sneezed and didn't cover her mouth/nose. Now woman B had her 2 kids with her and that obviously didn't sit well. She turned to woman A and told her that she needs to cover her mouth next time. Woman A protested and declared that she did cover her mouth and that Woman B should mind her own business. From there, it just proceeded to escalate (all while Woman B's two kids sat quietly next to her). Woman B is yelling and at one point says "You better watch what you say because you never know when you're going to run into a crazy person. And I'm a crazy bitch!" They continued to yell for another couple stops. Once they were done, they both turned in their seats, woman A started reading her paper, woman B started talking to her kids and it was over. Neither one moved their seats or acted like anything happened. Note to self: always cover your mouth/nose on the Subway!
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
My "I'm a New Yorker" moment
Ok, so I've had a couple of semi I'm-a-New-Yorker moments since I've been in the Big Apple but nothing quite like today. The few that I have had were more internalized and me thinking to myself "Look at me getting around on the subway by myself!" Or "Look at me meeting a friend in Manhattan for drinks!".
Well today, I was on the subway by myself heading to the movie theater for our "free movie Tuesday" (we get two tickets to the movies for FREE on Tuesdays with our cable rewards program...kinda awesome, huh? And they say everything is expensive in New York!). Anyway, the subway is pretty empty because I'm traveling the opposite direction of the rush hour crowd. I was reading a book and not paying much attention when a guy that had fallen asleep suddenly wakes up and is trying to get someone's attention to find out if he missed his stop. I happen to look up, catch his eye and in my most nonchalant voice, tell him "No, you're stop is still two stops away." He was very thankful and I was very impressed. I guess I'm not a tourist anymore!
Well today, I was on the subway by myself heading to the movie theater for our "free movie Tuesday" (we get two tickets to the movies for FREE on Tuesdays with our cable rewards program...kinda awesome, huh? And they say everything is expensive in New York!). Anyway, the subway is pretty empty because I'm traveling the opposite direction of the rush hour crowd. I was reading a book and not paying much attention when a guy that had fallen asleep suddenly wakes up and is trying to get someone's attention to find out if he missed his stop. I happen to look up, catch his eye and in my most nonchalant voice, tell him "No, you're stop is still two stops away." He was very thankful and I was very impressed. I guess I'm not a tourist anymore!
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
JOE & SHAMUS
We have a local DIVE bar (and I mean dive bar) in our neighborhood called Denny's. The name should tell you enough! We went there the first night that we got to town because we needed to treat our moving team to cold beverages and obviously we needed to check out our local hang. That being said, it's an awesome, small, stone, old fashioned bar filled with pretty much locals only.
That being said, we decided to head there when the Yankee's were taking on the Red Sox our first weekend here. Nat's a huge Red Sox fan, growing up on Cape Cod, and obviously wanted to watch this intense rivalry. We were also meeting up with our friend Chip that I hadn't seen since moving to NYC. After talking Nat out of ALL Red Sox gear, we headed out to the bar. We walk in and it's immediately very intimidating. It's pretty busy. There aren't any bar stools and everyone is starring at us. We stand around awkwardly for a moment, contemplate leaving then finally decide to order a beer and pull up some bar stools in the middle of the room (also awkwardly) because there is no where else to sit. We chat and continue being awkward for 5-10 minutes when I happen to notice that a couple bar stools have opened up. We make our way up to the bar and in true southern fashion, I immediately ask the bartender what his name is. Hey, we obviously gotta get in good at this place. Let's call him William because I think it started with a "W" and I can't remember his name right now (I know...so much for getting in good!).
Well after warming up to William, our old bartender, who just got off of his shift, bought us a round so we're one step closer to getting "in" with the cool kids. As we're sitting at the bar, wondering if and when they are going to turn the Red Sox vs. Yankees game on but too nervous to ask, I make eye contact with the two guys at the end of the bar: Cue Joe and Shamus. Now to paint a picture...Joe looks a little like a older, cuter version of Alf and Shamus is his obvious sidekick. They are drinking shots of whiskey alongside each beer that they order. Cue the introductions.
After announcing that "they have guests in the bar" they proceed to ask where we are from. We tell them that we just moved into the neighborhood, Nat's been here for a year and I just moved here. Where did you move from they ask. Nashville I say. They then proceed to give me the biggest Brooklyn welcome that they can conjure up in their whiskey and beer drunken state. Joe announces that he's going to play "Nashville" music on the juke box so that I feel more welcome. He proceeds to play Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson. As the songs are playing, Joe and Shamus also decide to dance with one another while belting the songs at the top of their lungs. At one point, Shamus slings Joe on top of the pool table where he stays, spread eagle, for a solid 10 seconds. After getting off the table, they resume their position at the end of the bar.
From there, Shamus sends a round of beers our way. Three beers to be exact. One for me, one for Nat and one for Chip. The guys are soaking up every second of their free beers since it's obvious that I'm the reason they got them! Joe then makes his way down to where we are sitting. He puts his hand on Nat's shoulder and starts carrying on about how he must have been a football player, he's so big and strong, he would never mess with him, etc. Joe appears to have had a sober moment and became afraid that Nat was going to kick his ass!
Another 15 or 20 minutes go by and then Joe makes my favorite move of the entire night. He very loudly clears his throat and at the top of his lungs, yells (which he doesn't have to yell loudly because this bar is tiny) "JENNY IS THE ONLY PERSON THAT MATTERS IN THIS ENTIRE BAR!"
That being said, we decided to head there when the Yankee's were taking on the Red Sox our first weekend here. Nat's a huge Red Sox fan, growing up on Cape Cod, and obviously wanted to watch this intense rivalry. We were also meeting up with our friend Chip that I hadn't seen since moving to NYC. After talking Nat out of ALL Red Sox gear, we headed out to the bar. We walk in and it's immediately very intimidating. It's pretty busy. There aren't any bar stools and everyone is starring at us. We stand around awkwardly for a moment, contemplate leaving then finally decide to order a beer and pull up some bar stools in the middle of the room (also awkwardly) because there is no where else to sit. We chat and continue being awkward for 5-10 minutes when I happen to notice that a couple bar stools have opened up. We make our way up to the bar and in true southern fashion, I immediately ask the bartender what his name is. Hey, we obviously gotta get in good at this place. Let's call him William because I think it started with a "W" and I can't remember his name right now (I know...so much for getting in good!).
Well after warming up to William, our old bartender, who just got off of his shift, bought us a round so we're one step closer to getting "in" with the cool kids. As we're sitting at the bar, wondering if and when they are going to turn the Red Sox vs. Yankees game on but too nervous to ask, I make eye contact with the two guys at the end of the bar: Cue Joe and Shamus. Now to paint a picture...Joe looks a little like a older, cuter version of Alf and Shamus is his obvious sidekick. They are drinking shots of whiskey alongside each beer that they order. Cue the introductions.
After announcing that "they have guests in the bar" they proceed to ask where we are from. We tell them that we just moved into the neighborhood, Nat's been here for a year and I just moved here. Where did you move from they ask. Nashville I say. They then proceed to give me the biggest Brooklyn welcome that they can conjure up in their whiskey and beer drunken state. Joe announces that he's going to play "Nashville" music on the juke box so that I feel more welcome. He proceeds to play Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson. As the songs are playing, Joe and Shamus also decide to dance with one another while belting the songs at the top of their lungs. At one point, Shamus slings Joe on top of the pool table where he stays, spread eagle, for a solid 10 seconds. After getting off the table, they resume their position at the end of the bar.
From there, Shamus sends a round of beers our way. Three beers to be exact. One for me, one for Nat and one for Chip. The guys are soaking up every second of their free beers since it's obvious that I'm the reason they got them! Joe then makes his way down to where we are sitting. He puts his hand on Nat's shoulder and starts carrying on about how he must have been a football player, he's so big and strong, he would never mess with him, etc. Joe appears to have had a sober moment and became afraid that Nat was going to kick his ass!
Another 15 or 20 minutes go by and then Joe makes my favorite move of the entire night. He very loudly clears his throat and at the top of his lungs, yells (which he doesn't have to yell loudly because this bar is tiny) "JENNY IS THE ONLY PERSON THAT MATTERS IN THIS ENTIRE BAR!"
Monday, October 12, 2009
Nashvillian Nugget:
So I happened to be cruising around town yesterday on a shuttle bus, in route to catch my subway train, and I notice an extremely (we're talking 75+ people) LOOOOONG line outside of this building. Of course that instantly peeked my interest and I assume that I am missing out on some awesome, trendy, New York event. About 10 seconds into starring at the extremely diverse group of people in this line, I realize that it isn't the line to an awesome event but rather the line for TRADER JOE'S! No lie...I bet those people waited an hour+ just to get in that store.
That being said, I thought I would share this with all my Nashvillian friends so that the next time you head to our beloved Trader Joe's in Green Hills, maybe you'll take a moment and appreciate being able to freely walk into the store. :-)
That being said, I thought I would share this with all my Nashvillian friends so that the next time you head to our beloved Trader Joe's in Green Hills, maybe you'll take a moment and appreciate being able to freely walk into the store. :-)
Saturday, October 10, 2009
THE TABLE.
So long story short, Nat and I needed an island. We had a pretty large open space in our kitchen across from our current counter space and definitely needed a new addition for cooking, appliances, decor, etc. So we planned our over night stay during the move in a location that would make it convenient to stop at an Ikea on the way to New York while we still had the Budget truck. We were very proud of our planning ahead and use of the truck. That being said, we slept in later than expected, took longer than expected checking out and getting breakfast. Very quickly, our 2 hour allotted Ikea time turned into an hour at best and for those of you that have ever been to an Ikea, an hour flies by like 5 minutes in that place!
So anyway, we arrive and I swear there were angels singing. There is a very special place in my heart for Ikea. We have our list in hand and task laid out before us. Priority #1 - Find an island and desk for my office. We had a few other things we wanted (bookcase, pots & pan hanger, duvet cover, etc.) but those could wait if need be. Keep in mind also, that I hadn't actually seen or been in our place for about a month so my perception was a bit off and Nat's (as much as I adore him) has a bit of a skewed perception or maybe a lack of observation, as is. So we search over all of the islands, finally make a decision based on size, versatility and price and get ready to leave. As we're walking out, the piece above caught our eye. It was on sale. It was practical and offered lots of counter space. We took it. Since it was on sale, we had to purchase it via a print out and then they had to bring it out of the back room for us. Nat gets the truck. I wait for the table. I see them coming from a mile away. The boxes, especially one of the boxes, are HUGE. I immediately think that there is no way this thing is fitting in our kitchen. But the decision has been made, maybe I don't remember correctly I think, and we continue on with our journey.
We arrive home and bring the boxes with the island/table pieces in first. Once I step in the kitchen, I realize how large it really is and am immediately put at peace. This table will definitely fit. It's going to look awesome! Cut to that night...
We're SO excited to put this thing together that we can barely contain ourselves. Ignoring the other 100's of boxes, we go straight for the table and open the 3 boxes up (2 with tables legs and 1 with the top piece). After opening them all up, it's very apparent to both of us that something or multiple somethings are missing. We have no brackets. No screws. No way to secure anything to anything. Literally, we stand there holding 3 pieces of pretty, smooth, white wood. The picture that you see above is what we saw in the store and what they sale online. Very, very deceiving. However, this is not going to set us back. We make a decision that we have to buy brackets and screw them from underneath to secure it together. No problem. We have this. We get the brackets the next day and while I get work done, Nat sets forth to set up our first domestic purchase and project as a live-in couple!
Next thing I hear is "Oh no, I think I messed it up!" Into the kitchen I go, expecting what is sure to be a huge hole, missing leg or some other terrible disaster. As I turn the corner, I see it. The absolute LARGEST, HUMONGOUS, GAWDY, AMAZON, GIGANTIC table that I have ever seen in my life. Nat was just kidding and didn't mess anything up but wanted to surprise me. And surprise me he did. I don't know what happened in the store. Whether it was the bright lights, the huge space or our delirium but somehow we/I missed the fact that this table belonged in either an architecture firm with blue prints covering the entire space or a work shed with saws and other various tools spread across it. Nat was so proud (as was I of him) however I couldn't get past the size of this thing in my kitchen. Nat kept saying how he liked the "industrial" look of it but I wasn't buying it.
So we debate. I work. He watches tv. I forget about it and then go back in the kitchen
and then we discuss it some more. Options under consideration ranged from scrapping the whole thing to putting an ad on craigslist to hire someone with a saw (I was desperate). A few hours later, as I was working in my office, I had an epiphany. Maybe we could use only the legs and make a table out of them. From that idea, came our new amazing piece of furniture. Now, we not only have counter space to work on but we also have an eat-in kitchen and can use my bar stools! We are in love! And as an added bonus, we have a huge, white piece of wood sitting unused beside our fridge! Anyone know of any good uses for that? Here's the finished product (big props to Nat):
and then we discuss it some more. Options under consideration ranged from scrapping the whole thing to putting an ad on craigslist to hire someone with a saw (I was desperate). A few hours later, as I was working in my office, I had an epiphany. Maybe we could use only the legs and make a table out of them. From that idea, came our new amazing piece of furniture. Now, we not only have counter space to work on but we also have an eat-in kitchen and can use my bar stools! We are in love! And as an added bonus, we have a huge, white piece of wood sitting unused beside our fridge! Anyone know of any good uses for that? Here's the finished product (big props to Nat):
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
THE ARRIVAL
So we arrived and everything else arrived in one piece minus a wine decanter that I was very willing to sacrifice at the expense of everything else not breaking. I must say, my packing team should get paid for what they did! That being said, Nat was also an A+, fabulous, stellar Budget truck driver. He menuvered the mountains of PA with only a few moments of stress, the rain of all of Kentucky and most of Ohio with ease and even the traffic and bridges of NYC. Basically, he was my hero that trip. And yours truly never even sat in the driver's seat!
Funny stories from the trip...let's see. I decided at the beginning that I wanted to take pictures of all of the "welcome" signs for the different states as we went. Little did we know that that would be more stressful than the drive up here (I'm kidding...alittle bit). Kentucky...check. Ohio(see below)...Nat had the windsheild wipers on in preparation for the upcoming rain I guess because it wasn't raining at picture time! Needless to say, that was about 2 minutes of me unneccesarily being unhappy! West Virginia...missed the whole damn thing as I was searching for animal crackers for my loving boyfriend. Again, about 3 minutes of unneccesary bitching on my part! Pennsylvania...I was PREPARED for that one. I think Nat stopped asking for snacks about 30 minutes before the sign was set to appear! :-) New Jersey...got it without snack or wiper distraction. And finally New York...the one I was most excited about, didn't even exist. What does it say about a state when they don't even welcome you!! I think it says that you officially live in the northeast! ;-)
What else happened? We played "see how many different state license plates you can spot". Any guesses on how many we saw? 30. I thought we would see more. Nat guessed that we would see exactly 30. Everything is a competition. The snack pack was a HUGE hit. Our favorites in order...chips (Doritos for Nat and BBQ Lays for me), Beef jerky (gone on day 1), Jolly Ranchers (surprise favorite), Animal crackers, Pringles (Nat ate his the night before we left!), and M&Ms. Thanks again Nillie and Ashley! We called a Holiday Inn in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania home for the night, debated for approximately 10 minutes as we drove in circles around the parking lot, where to park the truck. Finally compromised on a spot further from the entrance and foot traffic than I would have liked but underneath a light and in an area where Nat could confidently back the truck into the spot. Domestic bliss is all about compromise!
If you've managed to make it through all of my rambling, take relief, you've now come to the fun part! Pictures of our new home!!
We made it! The view driving into New York.
Driving through a mountain in Pennsylvania.
The windshield wiper/welcome to Ohio incident!
SO MANY BOXES!
Boxes in the bedroom...
Boxes in the guest room/office...
Boxes in the kitchen...
WELCOME TO OUR HOME
Finished kitchen located to your right when you come in the front door. (Watch for an upcoming story on that table ;-)
Other side of the kitchen.
Our pantry in the entry way. Yes, we have a pantry in NYC!
HUGE closet in the entry way. It's where my stuff went.
Yes, the closet really is that BIG! I love it.
Our bathroom. Only place we saw with a counter/vanity like this. 
Bathroom.
Living room facing the entry way and front door.
Other side of the living room. Our bedroom door is behind me and the guest room is to the left.
TV on the awesome stand that my brother made me. The door leads to the guest room.
My office built my the hands of Nat McIntyre.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
THE ACTUAL MOVE.
The move date actually got here A LOT quicker than expected. Maybe it had to do with the fact that I was in a wedding the same weekend that I moved or maybe it was the dreaded "see-you-later's" with friends but I definitely wasn't prepared when the time came. Although, I don't know that you can ever really be prepared to pack up your entire life and start over in a new city. As exciting as it was to think that I would finally not only be in the same zip code as my boyfriend but literally under the same roof, it was also extremely bittersweet to bid farewell to the friends that I had before I moved to Nashville and also the ones made during my time in there. That being said, it was quite possibly the best decision that I've ever made and I don't have one single regret (although I may down the line...hehe)! Living here and being with Nat has been better than I ever thought it would be. It's so much fun getting to hang out with your best friend every single day. Ok, now I'm just being cheesy. Check out these pics from the actual move....
My awesome moving team. I was semi-forced (for very good reason) to bid farewell to an old friend. I think the duct-taped back is what did her in.
Two of my favorites
Last wine night with Tina at our now old apartment. Farewell 12301 Wyndchase...you were very good to us!
Did someone say snack pack for the road trip? We estimate that we each gained a minimum of 10 pounds in 2 days but it was worth it!
One last lock down of the truck...AND WE'RE OFF!
Monday, September 28, 2009
THE SEARCH.
Hey guys! I'm SO excited to get started on this blog. Not only to share all of the craziness of this adventure and keep in touch with you but also to document events and moments that I will be able to look back on for years to come! Thanks everyone for pushing me to get this thing up and going. Hopefully they will get easier after this one! :-) That being said, I thought I would start off with some pictures of the place pre-move during the search process. Next, I'll post some fun ones from the actual move and then pics of the place all set up. It's still a few days away from really feeling like home but we're very, very close and I figured if I kept waiting until it was perfect, I would never post anything (for those of you who don't know, I live with a real-life tornado. We like to call him Tor-NAT-o!). But seriously, we have made a really great team getting everything set up and Nat has really had to put his handy-man skills to use which I will explain in more detail in a later post (I'm trying to build anticipation here so that you guys will come back!). For now, enjoy the pre-move pics!
nope.
and nope again...although the oven looked nice!
this is the one!
our kitchen!
our bathroom
office/your guest room
living room looking at our bedroom door
living room looking at the guest bedroom door
last visit as a long distance couple
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