I'm 25 now...

Therefore get an excellent discount on car insurance. Welcome to adulthood, Lauren.

PhD Applications

(photo via flickr.com)

Let me just tell you...

PhD Applications are no picnic. You need GRE scores, and GRE subject scores, and letters of recommendation, and transcripts, and MONEY, lots and lots of money.  It's depressing. And scary.

Wish me luck. Applications are due the second week of December.

This time last year...

(photo via watermelon.org)

Remember last April... When I was complaining about the dreadful heat, and the dreadful cut-off dates for our air-conditioning? Oh yes, my friends, we're back again... As of right now, it's 86 degrees outside with 49% humidity and we are sans air conditioning... And we're still 13 days away from a reprieve. It's one of those days you wish you lived in a freezer, or you felt comfortable in the kitchen, making your own watermelon popsicles... 

Bomb Scare?

Welcome to New York City... Beautiful lights, beautiful people, and sketchy bomb scares? Yep.

While chatting about an adequate ice cream destination last night, Alix glanced out the window and said, "Maybe we shouldn't go outside?" The photo above was taken *after* the crowd started to clear... The entire street was packed with people at first... Apparently a suspicious SUV was spotted on 45th street between Broadway and 8th Ave. The license plate did not match the vehicle, and odd looking packages were seen in the backseat. Upon investigation, the SUV was packing tanks of propane, electrical wire, fireworks, and clocks with batteries. Times Square was evacuated immediately.

Scary stuff, living in this beautiful city.

Dance Floor

(photo via ffffound.com) 

I've been dying to bust a move recently. New York is known for sooo many wonderful things. Unfortunately, the presence of decent dance clubs is not one of them. More often than not, you're forced to pay an arm and a leg for cover, then - spend a fortune for a drink, all while fighting your way to the center of the floor. I'm certainly not a frequent club-goer, but I miss the dance floor. A lot.

A RAT, I say!!

(photo via visit.theflowerfields.com)

As I was walking home from school tonight, chatting away with my dear sister (discussing the arrival of her and my mother next month), I was startled by a LARGE rat running along side me on the sidewalk. I was in complete shock as I hung up the phone with my sister. I looked down to see the rat scurry in front of me and through a side gate of a restaurant. Gross.

A Good Shoe Repair Man

(My black Nine West boots. Bummer!)

Bless the soles of my winter shoes. Bless the soles of all my shoes, for that matter. As it turns out, this concrete jungle does a number on my boots, flip flops, and sneakers... 

It would be ridiculous to go out and buy a new pair of boots (when a good pair runs around $100), so I've become rather friendly with my shoe repair man. He's a little rough around the edges. So, I walk in with a smile, say please and thank you. He seems to appreciate my sincerity, as he does a fantastic job repairing my shoes. Although I had to barter a bit... I got the man down to $20 for two heel replacements, two sole replacements, and a shoe shine. He seemed to buckle under pressure when I mentioned the reasonable price I payed for a shoe repair in Phoenix... I won't lie, it was odd to discuss the price of a standard service. Is this a New York thing? I figured there might be a sign on the wall listing the standard price for different repair options. Maybe not? 

It seems I've developed some great professional relationships with my neighborhood's small business owners. These types of relationships are those that develop well over time. I walk in, say hello to "Charlie," and discuss my newest sole issue. And, I kind of love it. It's nice to hob-knob with the locals. And then I have to remind myself, I'm a local, too. 

Bad Hair Day

(photo via tumblr.com)

Gosh New York, you can be pretty brutal...

As I was walking to campus this past week, I was stopped on the street corner waiting for the light to change. I was joined by a young man who was walking his dog. It was still pretty early - 7:15a, perhaps?

The little dog started nipping at my feet, so I looked down and praised the dog for being totally adorable. And thus a wonderfully awkward conversation commenced...

Lauren: "Awhhh, puppy! Hi, baby! He's so cute!":::smiling:::
46th St Man: "Wow, you have a gorgeous smile." :::smiling:::
L: "Wow, thank you so much! It's only 7:00a and you've already made my day!" :::smiling:::
46SM: "Yeah, you have horrible hair, but your smile is really nice." :::46SM exits:::
L: :::WTF?:::

He walked away. And there I stood on the street corner totally baffled by what just happened. My hair is my one feature that I'm totally pleased with, 46SM! Whew, rough day. And it was only 7:15a.

Note to self: Welcome to New York, Lauren.

My Flu Shot

Per request of my dear old Dad, I got a flu shot this weekend. I'm working at the hospital now and they were offering them up for free. It didn't hurt at all, but I have been experiencing some "flu-like" symptoms the past few days - body aches, head aches, sore throat. This is to be expected, according to the nurse who gave me the shot. If I catch the full-blown flu, however, this girl is gonna be pretty upset.

However, I'm hearing more and more stories of people I know getting the Swine Flu... Gotta be prepared, unfortunately.

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.

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.

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.

spring cleaning

it's raining. again. what is the deal??

anyhoo, to stay productive, i decided i should dominate with some serious windex action and clean this place up. 

growing up, we never had hard-wood floors. we did the whole slate tile thing. so, i can't really testify on maintenance of hard-wood floors, until now. when alix and i started apartment shopping last june, we noticed that nearly every apartment we viewed had hard-wood floors. i was super psyched! hard-wood floors are very chic and clean. the reality - maintenance bites. i'm not sure if this is mainly an "east coast thing," because slate never accumulated this many dust bunnies. we're constantly sweeping our apartment. where in the world does it come from? surely we track in a fair amount of dirt and dust, but this is truly ridiculous. 

it's like spring cleaning everyday. whew, scary thought. 

it's supposed to rain for the rest of the week! hopefully your weekend is dryer than mine. ;)

happy saturday! 

the good, the bad, and the scary

in my mission statement, i promised to report all of my experiences in new york - the good and the bad. well, my friends, here's some of the scary. 

rachael and i met for a lovely dinner and a movie date in the village this evening. rachael suggested this great little italian bistro named supper. they had a huge wine selection. the vino menu was well over ten pages long. some time has passed since she and i were able to bond so we were totally loving the dinner, the vino, and the company. as we were making our way over to the theatre to see the hangover (oi! so hilarious!), we were caught off guard by an older man screaming obscenities... at us! i won't taint cuethesunshine's image and share the awful words thrown our way... but this experience is hardly unrealistic. :(

as i walk down the street on a regular basis, i'm incredibly vulnerable. alix had always said... "in my car at home, i can just roll up the window!! here, i can't." way to put it, alix. way. to. put. it. we've been repeatedly told by locals to simply ignore it. those who behave this way shouldn't be reinforced by any cruel words i could say in return. sadly, i've had my fair share of inappropriate comments - some perhaps flattering and some that make me want to cry. however, as the distance between us and the horrible man grew, i reminded myself of a few things. 

1. he might be crazy. new york has the highest rate of homeless individuals who suffer from some sort of mental disorder.  

2. he might be drunk. we had just walked passed how many pubs?

3. he might be right. oi. scary thought. 

4. he might be wrong. please, let him be wrongggg. 

5. he doesn't know me.

obviously i'm slightly bothered by individuals like the one we encountered tonight. next time, i'll throw a tomato at him.