London

So the story is... Living in New York, I'm pretty darn close to Great Britain. Too close. So close, I could swim there.

Haha, OK. Not that close.

Nonetheless, I'm thinking it would be wise to take a trip to jolly old England before I'm swept away from the city - which could be anytime after May of next year. Considering the inflated price of domestic flights, it seems far too reasonable to take a direct international flight from JFK to Heathrow and hang out in London for a few days. Plus, STA is offering some super smokin' flight deals. Anybody on board? I'm thinking Spring-ish.

Wednesday Night Treats

I have two things that make me happy today is Wednesday.

1. Listening to the new Harry Connick Jr. soundtrack. The entire disc is full of covers from traditional love songs, but I'm totally smitten with it nonetheless. His voice is absolutely delicious. I've decided it's a good anything-cd. I could be doing anything - studying, cleaning, dressing up for a night on the town - and it's still a good listen.

2. Quotes that remind to embrace the nerd in me. I picked this quote up from ACupOfJo and decided I had to share. So then, I'm happy to say I'm always thrilled to reveal the goof in me whenever possible. Lucky for me, I'm usually surrounded by other goofy people - so I feel like this is a good quote to summarize my life, and the lives of my silly old friends.

"I must learn to love the fool in me--the one who feels too much, talks too much, takes too many chances, wins sometimes and loses often, lacks self-control, loves and hates, hurts and gets hurt, promises and breaks promises, laughs and cries. It alone protects me against that utterly self-controlled, masterful tyrant whom I also harbor and who would rob me of human aliveness, humility, and dignity but for my fool." -- Theodore I. Rubin, MD

I have this thing...

I just love taking photos of "Happy Things" I see and/or experience while I'm out and about and then sending them to my pals. I've taken some real gems recently, but this one I keep coming back to... On Amsterdam, between 59th and 58th streets, there is a sweet word carved into the concrete. You can see it just before you hit 58th, heading south, on the east side of the road.

Several years ago, my girlfriends and I made a habit of addressing each other by "lover." It became a thing, and now it's down-right expected in regular conversation. Nonetheless, it puts a smile on our faces on a regular basis. So, seeing the glorified word etched into the sidewalk is simply a buzz of energy for me.

Just 'Cause

I'm missing my niece, Baby Kate, more than usual today. She's growing up so fast, and I'm having a hard time accepting how much I'm missing... I'll see you soon, darling! Thanksgiving is oh-so close.

Happy Birthday to Me!

I celebrated my 24th birthday yesterday! Yesss! Not only did I receive a birthday phone call from my family and pals back at home, I was lucky enough to share a birthday brunch with my dear Mother and ring in my new year with some great girlfriends here in the city; they really spoiled me. Thanks gals, for making it a very special day!

Bed Bugs

I wasn't so sure that I really wanted to "go there" with this post; however, I did promise to report the good and the bad of my experiences in New York City. So, here's the dirty dish.

"Bed Bugs" are apparently quite an issue in the city. I've heard some say that because the city is an outlet for so much traffic (person and otherwise), it's difficult to maintain decent sanitation in some ways. (I'm not sure how accurate this hypothesis is.) Bed bugs are small little bugs that harbor themselves in mattresses. A lot of people will wake up with welts all over their bodies from "bed bug bites." (Sounding a bit like a nightly farewell from mom and dad, "don't let the bed bugs bite!") Great, bugs in bed? Wash the sheets! Not so easy... Bed bugs spread like wild fire. Once they're there, they're not easy to diminish. A lot of people have had to dispose of their entire beds, as they camp out in the cracks of wood and metal frames as well. Then, they may transfer to other furniture. (You can see how this can become a problem...)

So, John Jay has been in the news the past few days, and it's not a good thing. Recently, staff in a number of administrative offices (financial aid, the health office, undergraduate admissions, etc) started reporting a "strange rash on their arms and legs." The administration decided to have this problem investigated. After a review of our main building on campus, the EPA found evidence of bed bugs on three of four floors. According to our administration, the bed bugs are more of a "situation," or "nuisance" than a "problem." Students and faculty immediately started panicking, mainly concerned about bringing these horrible little creatures home. As a result, administration decided to close the building for the rest of the week and through the weekend to chemically clean the building.

Disgusting.

So... bed bugs. College building, no beds. Weird? No, not really. Apparently, bed bugs have started to manifest themselves in office buildings, finding passageways through electrical wiring and small cracks. According to the NY Times, the NYC Fox building has had plenty of experience with them.

Really then - what is a bed bug?? Before migrating east, I had never heard of bed bugs before. After moving out here, I was consistently hearing reports of people having to throw away entire bedroom sets to rid themselves of the problem.

So, Alix and I are on alert. However, we're happy to report - no bed bug sightings in our apartment and no evidence of bites on our bodies. Amen. I'll keep you posted.

Plain White T's & Snow Patrol

I attended the Snow Patrol concert last night at the Beacon on the upper west side, near Lincoln Center. It was totally marvelous! The Beacon is a historical landmark, previously hosting performances by Van Morrison, the Rollings Stones, and Aerosmith - to name a few.

The show was fantastic, as it opened with the Plain White T's, who are simply wonderful on stage. The intermission was oh-so brief before Snow Patrol emerged with all of their great songs, then returned again for a four-song encore. Oh my, it was quite a divine night.

She was bowled over. (Bahaa...)

As I was standing in line at Fivebucks yesterday, I overheard a conversation between a young couple. (Ok, I was eavesdropping.) A mild argument was taking place, but the young lady was laughing through it. From what I could make, the young man had recently exposed a talent of his (some sweet bowling skills) and the young lady was surprised she had never known this about him...

I'm not the type to listen in on others' conversations and then publicly share what I heard, but the message here was too valuable not to share.

Here's the dialogue I caught...

Young Man (ym): It's fun though, right?

Young Lady (yl): Haha, yes. It's fun! I'm proud of you, obviously. I'm just shocked I never knew.

ym: It's not like I was keeping it from you.

yl: We've been together for two years.

ym: I don't know what to tell you. I'm keepin' it fresh.

I'm with ym. Shouldn't we all keep life lively?

Being on Alert

I sometimes forget about the risks of living in an urban metropolis like New York City.

Students, faculty, and staff arrived on campus today all a buzz over the newest terrorism threats on Manhattan. Since 9/11, we takes threats to our humanity quite seriously, as we should. Some of my co-workers blew it off like everything is fine, while others showed genuine concern for riding public transportation and being in major areas. Quite frankly, I'm not sure how to feel about all of it.

I was a high school student when the terrorist attacks of 9/11 occurred. My mom had been a flight attendant for quite a few years at that point and she was away on a trip. One can imagine the hell my family went through before the government released details of what airlines and aircrafts had been lost in the attacks. Luckily, her flight had been diverted to Canada due to the incidents, which perhaps may have been the safest place for her at that time. As I look back, I remember thinking how terrifying it must be to live in New York City right now.

Fast forward eight years. The city is still bruised from the effects of 9/11. So many valuable lives were lost. We will remember how horribly we all felt after the attacks. And now, the feelings are back, shielded by a tense fear of high alerts and extreme caution on every street corner. It's a scary feeling. Living in Arizona, terrorist attacks seemed so far away. Naturally my memory is clouded by the flaws of my naive adolescence; nonetheless, I felt as though we were untouchable. Now, the threats are in my backyard. And I guess, I'm struggling with the reality of it.

How Trashy

(photo via huffingtonpost.com)

I won't claim to be a major environmentalist; I'd like to think I take advantage of recycling where possible (Eh, I could be lying to myself), but I really struggle with people who litter. Sure, dropping a piece of trash on the ground has crossed my mind occasionally, but I can confidently admit I haven't executed the urge.

New York City is dirty. Of course, there are some absolutely gorgeous neighborhoods that take pride in their appearances (and they're paying for it), but most of the city is pretty grungy. One could argue the grime of the city adds to its charm - making it more vintage and unique. Yes, I could agree with that perspective - rustic cathedrals and cobblestone most definitely reflect the wisdom of their age. Trash spewn about, however, is tacky and disgusting. Perhaps I struggle most with cigarette butts. They're everywhere. Everywhere. I see dozens of people everyday inhale their last puff and flick the butt across the sidewalk. Excuse me, gross. Put it out on the ground, then toss it in the trash! (According to The Cooperator, NYC is responsible for 12,000 tons of garbage each day!)

New York City has one of the most aggressive sanitation programs in the nation, transporting a lot of their trash out to other states through trucking and train services. There is a trash can on every single corner. They take it seriously, which is absolutely fantastic; however, it creates a problem when people fail to follow through with such initiatives.

I was curious, so I googled "NYC Sanitation..." The results were staggering.

Staten Island's Garbage Crisis

Wiki Answers

A blog with some answers!

But, hey! We can do something productive with it! Sell it?

Check out this Sea of Trash!

Note to Self: Recycle. More. Better.

Happy Birthday To Us!!

September birthdays are pretty rad! Due to scheduling conflicts, Alix and I haven't been able to properly celebrate these momentous occasions. Today, we decided to rendezvous at Tavern on the Green as a birthday treat for ourselves. The weather was perfect, so sitting on the patio turned out to be the ideal decision. We started with afternoon cocktails, of course. I had the Central Park Peach Iced Tea (couldn't tell you what was in it) and Alix had "Maxwell's Plum;" I'm not sure - hers looked dark and scary, but it tasted fab. We had french toast and followed up with a chocolate birthday cake. (Natch!) Our server put two candles in it. It was lovely!

Happy Birthday to Us! :)

8th Ave

We live on 8th Ave. And, it can get kind of ridic every once in awhile. Our close proximity to Times Square is a huge turn-off for this neighborhood. However, every few months, 8th Ave plays host to a wicked street fair.

They play music (Bob Marley!), serve food, and sell art, clothes, massages. It's a pretty cool time.

(8th Ave. North)

(8th Ave. South)

Miike Snow

Last night, I attended the Miike Snow concert in Hoboken with Amanda and Chandra. Annnd, it was AMAZING. The show started a little later than expected, but it was oh-so worth it. The music was a tad techno-y but had a rock flare to it - totally fell in love. Even better, they had a phenom opener - Jack Penate. He was a mix of rock and reggae. You can bet I raced home and downloaded all the goods onto my iTunes.

BTW, I am super smitten with Hoboken, NJ. It's a small town with a lot of soul - plenty of little restaurants and bistros, shops and boutiques. The venue for the show was fantastic as well. Maxwell's was a restaurant with a large room set-up in back. The stage is elevated, but it's quite intimate. We couldn't have been more than 20 feet from the band.

Nutshell - the experience was absolutely marvelous.

People Who Ask for Money

It's very difficult living in New York and having constant exposure to those who are less fortunate than I am. In reality, I'm quite spoiled. I have a nice apartment in Midtown West and I'm attending a great school pursuing something I'm oh-so passionate about. On a daily basis, I cross paths with people who are asking for money. And, it's challenging.

I've got a couple options.

1. I could give them whatever I have in my pocket.

2. I could not give them whatever I have in my pocket.

Naturally, I would love to be able to assist those who need a little extra help to get by, but I stop myself. It's quite difficult to know who is really in need and who will take the money and do something not so swell with it. From my studies, I've learned that a large percentage (75% - 85%) of homeless individuals are drug abusers. Simply put, I don't like the idea of supporting a drug addiction. Secondly, it's difficult to tell who of those are legitimately down on their luck. I've heard countless stories (anecdotal evidence, I know) of people who throw on some raggedy old clothes and go sit on a street corner - peddling for money as a part-time job. They've reported buckling in anywhere from $150 to $400 a day. (I'm working nearly 40 hours a week and not nearly as successful! [NY taxes are RIDIC!])

So, I have a short story. A few months ago, I was galavanting along the Upper West Side with my gal pal AmyJane. As we crossed the street, we were approached by a middle-aged man speaking in an odd tone, strange noises and using hand gestures. He put a piece of paper in front of us that stated: "I am deaf. Please help." Next to this note were a few tips about American Sign Language (ASL) so that we may communicate with him. Well then, sir - you are clearly deaf. In all honesty, I had no money in my pocket, but I was somewhat excited to bust out my knowledge of ASL (2 years at ASU) and have a conversation with him. I communicated clearly (without moving my lips - "mouthing" what you're saying is considered bad form for signers): "I'm sorry. We have no money." The man gave me an awkward look and turned to Amy. She shrugged her shoulders and frowned apologetically. He looked back at me and I signed again: "I'm very sorry. We have no money." He was quite confused and pointed to his ASL sheet in hand while continuing to make strange gurgling noises and odd hand gestures (not ASL, "spirit fingers" came to mind). I was shocked. Amy was shocked. We both knew it. This fella was not deaf. I leaned over to Amy and said: "He's not deaf." The man became frustrated, shook his head and walked away. Could he have really been deaf and not understood the message I was signing? Perhaps, but his clear endorsement of ASL on the paper he showed us makes that argument rather weak.

As painful as it is to see people struggle with the challenges of being homeless, financially - it's difficult to give in everytime and it's necessary to be slightly skeptic of people asking for money. A caveat, however: I'll admit I give in occassionally. I can hardly resist a little dog partnered with a young person asking for money, or a an older individual struggling with a handicap, so I'll offer up any change in my pocket. Sure, they may do something bad with it, but it makes me feel like a better person (pff! so altruistic of me, eh?).

Surely, it is necessary to mention the folks who are standing on a street corner, asking for money, and playing their hearts out on a guitar, tambourine, or saxophone. If I have a buck floating in my pocket, and I'm impressed with their act, you bet I'll make a donation. If you're providing a service, entertainment for instance, I'd love to help you out.

What are my alternatives? I'm uber passionate about non-profit work. Plus, I'm all about volunteering my time to people I know who need the help and appreciate the work I do. For me, that's my way of giving back the community. Surely this method may not work for everybody, but for now - it works for me.

Love is Free

You may have heard my stories of galavanting around the Union Square Market... Well, last weekend while enjoying a visit from Kristin and Hayley, we took a seat near the subway entrance to people watch... She was giving away free hugs! Phenom!

Last Weekend

Last weekend, I was blessed with a visit from two dear friends. Naturally, we had some fun. Here's a quick photo journal to synopsize the weekend.

Such a Beaver

(photo via eduverse.org)

I'm quickly approaching the end of my third week and I'm finally getting a grip on this crazy schedule. I think this semester might be one of my most productive semesters yet. I have zero downtime, but I'm kind of loving it. When the end of the semester nears, though, I fear I may not have the same attitude... "Lauren," Mama Meyer said, "Are you trying to see how hard you can push yourself?"

Yes, mother. I am. More and more recently, I've been cooking up a dream so hesitantly remarkable - reaching out to my breaking point and giving it a wicked high-five. Let's see if I can make it happen. ;)

Meet Hank

(photo via 3bpblogs.com)

If you've EVER been in an elevator, you can appreciate this.

Sharing an elevator with somebody is awk. Sups awk. You're not sure how to stand, where to stand, who's getting off first, who's getting off last. Do I say something like: "Hi," or do I keep my mouth shut? What if an attractive fellow climbs aboard and I want to say hi, but he's putting on his iPod, so a short chat would be inappropriate. What if he says something, and I didn't hear him because my iPod is blasting something ridiculous like "The Call" from an old school Backstreet Boys album... Whew! So many things to think about...

This morning on my way to work, I climbed aboard the Camelot Express (my elevator) and was joined by "Hank." Hank lives on the 7th floor. Hank loves to sing. (Every once in awhile, I'll hear Hank singing at the top of his lungs, or a man I believe to be Hank.)

Hank was in a rather chipper mood this morning, as he hummed the tune to "Oh Chariot," by Gavin DeGraw. BTW, Hank is probably in his early 60's. Hank has great taste in music. (Go, Hank!) He invited me to step off the elevator first, so I obliged. As I stepped into the lobby, Hank hit the high note... And scared me half to death. I jumped. The doorman jumped. Hank laughed.

Thanks, Hank. I do cherish our awkward elevator rides.

Happy Centennial(ish)!

(photo via freetobesummit.com)

This is CueTheSunshine's 100th post(ish)! Yesss! Ok, so in reality - centennial is a reference to 100 years, or a 100th anniversary... But we're going to fudge a little in the sake of good fun and fun blogging!

To honor my 100th post(ish), I've made a short list (10!) of the things I've learned about myself and the blogging world since starting CueTheSunshine. Annnd, I just might reference some of my favorite posts - mine and others. Stick around, this is gonna be fun. ;)

1. Writing is therapeutic. It doesn't matter if I'm jabbering away about the mean man in the East Village, or my wonderful nap in Central Park, I feel better after writing. For me, exercising the angels and demons of my mind calms my anxiety, and it helps me understand myself better. And after all, it's always important to know yourself.

2. Getting lost in Blogger-Land just might be one of the most fun things to do. I often have to stop myself and ask - Do I have time to peruse blogger.com, and essentially sever all ties with the outside world for hours? Sometimes the answer is no. But, when it is yes, I have a wicked good time.

3. Bloggers are so stinkin' creative. Since joining blogger.com back in April, I've read some great blogs - people who have decided to jump online and share their wisdom, humor, DIY suggestions, great internet finds, design theories, food etc. These blogs and others provide wonderful insight to the diversity that envelopes the web.

4. I'm connected. Upon start-up, I was hoping to keep the links fresh between me, my family, and my friends. And, it's working. (I think.) I've come to realize how difficult it is to be so far away from everybody and everything I know and love. Thanks to CueTheSunshine, I've been able to let those important to me know what I've been up to, in a creative and non-traditional way.

5. I'm actively executing a goal. My mission statement declares I'd like to "track the progress of my adaptation..." Here I am, tracking away! CueTheSunshine has given me something to be loyal to - something to come back to everyday (ok, almost everyday) and report how things are going - "the good and the bad." And, commitment is good for the soul.

6. I'm creating a record of me. Here I am, giving myself a pat on the back. I'd like to have kids one day. (Not today.) And I think it would be totally phenomenal to share my blog with them - give them a little insight to what their mom was like in her 20's. Maybe I'll still be blogging by the time I settle down, but at least the here and now of CueTheSunshine is something they can come back to and think... "My mom was cool," or whatever the youth jargon will be...

7. I'm creating a record of experience. My time in New York has been unbelievable, amazing, phenomenal. Seriously - all of those things. I have seen and done some truly mind-blowing things (Thing 1, Thing 2, Thing 3...). 50 years from now, a lot of my memories will have faded. CueTheSunshine is fighting the dooms of time.

8. I've been reminded that people are good. We don't have cable. (Sad.) So, I spend a lot of time watching the news. (Also, sad.) The news is depressing. When I need a pick-me-up, I start reading blogs. Blogs are happy. And the people who write blogs are good.

9. My favorite post.

10. There's so much to do. I love being inspired. What a divine feeling it is to walk away from an experience - a good read, a great show, a new friend, etc. - and realize how badly you want to see and do more. CueTheSunshine has been a gateway for those realizations. This blog is a record of the things I've done - and reversely - a reminder of the things I haven't. Thanks to exposure to a variety of people who have seen and done things I have yet to experience, I'm inspired to "catch the trade winds in my sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." (Thank you, Mark Twain.)

My Library

(leaning tower of knowledgeeee!)

It's beyond scary at this point. I need to do something about my crazy book collection. Before I migrated East, I had to decide which books I wanted to bring with me. Naturally, it was quite difficult. (When I was young, I was a major pack-rat, but I quickly digressed from my obsessive nature and began throwing unnecessary items away.) The story behind my book collection, however, is slightly more interesting. 75% of my books relate to some form of the behavioral sciences - predominantly serial killers, clinical interviewing, psychological theory, true crime books, victimology, crime and courts, forensic assessment... I could go on... I'll stop. Essentially, most of my books serve as tools for research. I've decided the field of Psychology will remain my home for the next 50 years, so I ought to have some good reads for the long haul I'm on.

Several months ago, I was lucky enough to have a great professor donate some wonderful texts from her library to mine - suggesting some of the reads were absolutely essential if I planned to obtain my PhD in Clinical Psychology one day. (Oi.) Basically, my library is continually growing, and I need to accommodate.

To the point... My bookshelf is about to buckle. It sort of leans to one side, while over two dozen other books are cradled around the bottom. It's a great bookshelf, but I've decided it may be time to upgrade... (My mom would say: "It's time to get rid of some books, Lauren." Yeah, yeah, yeah...) I want a sassy alternative, so I'll peruse the internet for something sexy and homey. I'm open to ideas...

Marilyn = Genius

I've been coming across a substantial amount of Marilyn Monroe photos recently. Simply walking down the street, I've seen dozens of her photos lining the sidewalk. She's a historical gem; and even better, she had some pretty wicked wisdom to share during her time with the world.

My favorite...

"I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go; things go wrong so that you can appreciate them when they're right. You believe lies so that you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself... And sometimes, good things fall apart, so better things can fall together." - Marilyn Monroe

Fashion's Night Out

Tonight, Alix, Jennifer, and I took a trip downtown to partake in the festivities for Fashion's Night Out - NYC. It was totally phenom. (The rain was kinda crummy, but nonetheless - totally phenom.) Their goal (from the website)...

"In a global initiative to promote retail, restore consumer confidence, and celebrate fashion, US and international editions of Vogue are coordinating evening extravaganzas in their respective world fashion capitals."

Just makes your heart sing, doesn't it?? Honestly, I haven't lost my consumer confidence; I still love to shop regardless of my bank account simmering, sadly sans any worthwhile funds... Regardless, it's pretty refreshing to see multiple countries (US, UK, Greece, Italy, Russia, France, Brazil, India, Spain, China, German, Japan, Taiwan) come together to make people happy over something as special as fashion.

Naturally, we were up to some ridiculous shenanigans. We swooped by MadeWell for free cocktails. And we took a dip through Bloomingdales... And of course, we swung by the MeatPacking District to get a wiff of the designer couture in that neighborhood.

While mingling around the village, you can imagine where we wound up at the end of the night...

Did someone say Magnolia? :)

Oh-So Intense

This semester, I have a pretty phenom lineup of classes. My professors really have it together, as their lectures are thorough and informative.

I'm currently enrolled in a "Victimology" course, a class focusing on the behavioral inquisitions related to victims within the forensic field. There is some pretty intense reading on the syllabus. Naturally, I appreciate this material in a way that only a student of my field could be... But I'm thinking everyone could appreciate the message here...

"After class I walked to the men's room and looked at myself in the mirror. There I was - not the man in a suit staring at himself in the mirror over the bar in Georgetown and trying to be no one. I was alive and I wanted to be alive."

- Secret Life, Michael Ryan

(Secret Life is the autobiography of Michael Ryan, sharing his experience as the victim of sexual abuse at the age of five, later developing an interest in becoming the perpetrator as an adult.)

Big Kids Can Juggle

Week 2 is officially half over. Amen! Things have calmed down quite a bit, and I'm already looking forward to the weekend. However, I'm finding it somewhat disappointing that I've already scheduled study-time during what was originally set-aside as down-time. Problematic? Indeed. Necessary? Unfortunately.

With the craziness that has been the past week and a half, I've realized how obsessed I am with post-it notes. They may just be one of the coolest darn things around. I've been posting them everywhere as mini-reminders of all the things I need to accomplish. Nerdy? Oh yes. My mom, sister and I used to tease that shopping in the office supplies aisle at Target is one of the coolest things ever. (Wow, too much information.) I'm getting somewhere with this... Slowly, but surely...

So anyhoo, as I was killing the three extra minutes I had this evening - perusing through the lovely office gadgets on target.com, I realized how therapeutic shopping for such merchandise is for me. And then, it hit me. I'll be a student for the rest of my life... No need to panic Mom and Dad, I'll let go of my pursuit of formal education sometime after I obtain my PhD ;), but I will certainly not forfeit my desire to learn new things... So, in honor of such an agenda, I'd like to make a brief outline of things I'd like to learn in this lifetime... Naturally, the list is flexible. I'll add and subtract as things progress... Note: I'm actively recruiting teachers in any of these fields. Send me your resumes! ;)

1. Learn how to knit.

2. Learn how to develop photographs the old-fashioned way - in a dark room.

3. Learn how to speed-read. (And retain what I've read.)

4. Learn how to surf. Well.

5. Learn how to drive a manual (stick-shift) vehicle.

6. Learn how to take a compliment. (Not as easy as it sounds!)

7. Learn how to skate-board.

8. Learn how to play Pachelbel Canon in D Minor on the piano.

9. Learn how to speak Spanish, fluently.

10. Learn how to juggle.

11. Learn how to wiggle my ears.

12. Learn how to tell a joke without smirking before the punch-line.

13. Learn a secret hand-shake and execute it weekly.

14. More to come...

Service with a... Scowl?

I’ve been told my blogs have been lacking recently, specifically in the depth department. Apparently, I’m failing to reveal my soul as I used to. So, because I’m eager to please, I’m going to address the issue that’s been plaguing me recently.

Customer Service. (Thrashing to follow... You've been warned.)

New York has a reputation for being more edgy than the rest of the country. From my experience, the west coast seems to go with the flow, while the east coast is more fast-paced. So then, I feel that since living in the city for over a year, I can confidently say New Yorkers are simply not as friendly... Really, I shouldn’t generalize; I have come in contact with plenty of gentle souls here in the Big Apple. However, I’ve noticed customer service in the city… Bites. While venting to my friends about this server or that cashier, I usually get: “It’s New York,” like he or she is granted a “freebie” because we’re in New York and New Yorkers are allowed to be rude.

No, I disagree. “How are you?” Thank you,” and “You’re welcome” are universally appreciated. I really don’t care what city we’re in. Obviously, I’m pretty darn irked by this “geographical scapegoat” so frequently suggested. I can certainly understand when a poor guy or gal is suffering through a bad day, but one of the fundamentals of customer service is to make life pleasant, even when the day has hardly been kind.

With almost ten years of customer service under my belt, I know it doesn’t cost me anything to be nice. A genuine smile and interest in those I’m serving goes a long way. Words like: “Pardon me,” “I’m sorry, say again,” or “Oh, one more time please” are far more sincere than “What?” or “Huh?” But I’ve noticed the little things like these appear to be what separate the hearty bunch from those less peachy.

Call to action? Spread the honey. A smile of appreciation, a genuine apology for a minor mistake, or a high five for a job well done can only encourage the survival of candor and charm. (And really, who doesn't look good sporting a little bit of charm?)

I don't know about you...

But I loooove A CUP OF JO. Her blog is simply divine. I am a pretty hopeless romantic, so I've been tuning into her posts more and more often. Her recent blogs (posted by her various married friends while she is away on her honeymoon) highlight secrets to a happy marriage. So far, this is my favorite. I love - love notes. This couple deserves a cute award. Or maybe a cookie for creativity. ;)

Enjoy.

10 Things for September

10 things that make me terribly happy:
1. Visits from friends and family.

2. School. Work. Research. Being busy = Phenom.

3. Netflix. Alix and I recently got on board with Netflix and we're totally loving. It's like a little surprise twice a week.

4. Watching the temperature slowly drop. This summer was hot and humid and horrible.

(Please note: 8 weeks from now, I'll be complaining about the temperature drop.)

5. Spending $27 for books this semester. Yes, I said it. Twenty-seven big ones! 1 of my classes is not requiring a book. I'm borrowing a book from a friend for my second class. And my third class - the books put me back... twenty. seven. dollars. Amazing. :)

6. BBM. BlackBerry Messenger might be the coolest technological advancement since... AOL Instant Messenger? Hmm... ;)

7. New shoes. (Like I need them!)

8. Thanksgiving in Phoenix. It's happening this year. I bought my ticket and I'm rawring to go.

9. Getting older. This month, I'll celebrate my 24th birthday... And I'm pretty psyched about it. Getting older is fun.

10. Fall. I'm not talking about the temperature drop. I'm talkin' about the attitude and style that is Autmn. Yes, the leaves change and the air turns cool; however - there seems to be a little smirk on the faces of those sporting their new scarves, boots, and mittens.

Happy September! :)

Sister in the City

I was blessed with a wonderful visit from Sister this past weekend! She was accompanied by my lovely brother-in-law. Naturally, we were up to some serious shenanigans. We made it out to a baseball game at the new Yankee stadium (It was reallllly sunny and reallllly hot. We burned. Badly.) and we galavanted around the village quite a bit. We ate wonderful food and jabbered on about silly things. I'm truly so lucky to have such wonderful people in my life. They took an early flight back to Phoenix on Sunday. Ahhh, I miss them already.

Week 1 Bites.

This week was my first official week of my last official year as a Master's student. (HUH??) I'm done in one year!! I've got a gazillion things on my plate this year and I'm going to be a busy-busy beaver, but I'm totally psyched about all the experience I'm gaining. I'll stay busy with work and school and volunteering, etc. It's only week one and it already bites; but I can tell it's going to be a smashing semester! :)

Labor Day Weekend

Two of my favorite gal pals - Kristin and Hayley - will be visiting me this weekend. Of course, we have some totally amazing things on the agenda, but we'll certainly be playing it cool, snuggled up with some vino and fine faire as well. Hayley is pretty smitten with the Central Park Zoo, so we'll surely be making a visit there, and Kristin is hopelessly in love with the "Love" sign on 6th Ave. Thankfully, the sun is scheduled for most of the weekend.

Ooh Labor Day, I do enjoy your annual cameos.