June 8-11 Lori and I flew up to NYC to find an apartment. We have been planning our move for months... Maybe even years if you count our 16-year-old dreams. She is my best friend and we've known each other since 6th grade, best friends since 7th and I consider this girl my sister... a best friend soul mate.
I had been working with brokers over the phone for a couple months now and everyone was telling me we were looking to early. So Lori and I booked flights a couple weeks before our moving date and one week after the first of the month. With a moving date set for July 1, I panicked when I realized the paper work involved to get a lease in NYC was more intense then buying a home, a car, maybe even harder than adopting a baby. (not really, but close.) I understand all the reasoning from brokers, landlords, management companies, and all of the other parties involved in this process, but it's still frustrating. We decided a sublet was best for a few months in NYC until we could get all the paper work together and find a guarantor for the lease. I had been emailing a girl about a sublet a couple days before we flew to the city and really thought all we had to do was pay and we'd have some where to stay for two months. In the words of Jillian Michaels, "Think again Buddy!!!"
Wednesday June 8: I meet Lori at baggage claim and we get a cab to Long Island City to the Fairfield Inn (Thanks to the Buttons for helping us find an affordable hotel). We make our way towards Manhattan via subway and manage to get on the wrong train. I wasn't as anxiety prone with the subway system this time around- having been here in 2009 really helped me not panic so easily. So Lori and I were able to find our way with the Hopstop app and by asking around. All you have to do is ask someone if you're lost and if they know they're way around they will offer advice and direction without an attitude... This is something I will be forever grateful for. Soon, Lori and I can offer direction and advice to newcomers and tourists on the subway, although they might not want to trust us for a few months.
That afternoon, we meet the potential sublet in midtown east. And although the location was good and the apartment was good.... it basically falls through as we walk out the door. There was something in the girl's tone and lack of knowledge about anything that made me think "find something else." Although she promised to call with information on the next steps to take, I had a feeling it wasn't going to work out. The location was perfect and safe, but we needed to have back up. We walked in the 100 degree- nyc polluted- crowded humidity that was waiting to kill someone and made our way towards lululemon east 66th street. Lori is transferrring from the South Florida location and I'm trying to work there because I love their clothes and want to be surrounded by people who love working out, are positive, pursing dreams and work for a company that supports their employee's goals. I need a pay check too, but retail isn't really about the money. It will be a perfect transition job and if I get to work at Pure Barre it will be a double threat! I'll learn, grow, make friends and be able to wear comfortable clothes everyday. Can't beat that. We arrived early for our meeting and were greeted with friendly, happy lululemon employees happy to talk with us. The meeting went well and we will hear back next Friday. Lori and I also walked into every lululemon in the city and introduced ourselves, so if not 66th street store, another store will probably be hiring.
While saying our goodbyes at the store, we arranged a class for the next morning at Equinox gym (amazing, modern and cool gym with the best instructors and classes ever) with a couple girls from the store. We would be taking a class called "drenched" with Keoni and although I was nervous I was going to die in this cardio class, I was super excited to work out in NYC and make some friends. Keoni was amazing and spirited. His body was ridiculous and he told the story of how 147lbs earlier he didn't always have the raging 20 pack abs and lean body! He was an inspiration and motivator and I want to be his best friend. Ha
The class was amazing... didn't feel that hard while we were sweating, but we felt the pain the next day when we couldn't sit or walk down stairs without a look of painful horror! In new york city the subway is 20% stairs, 20% stinky, 40% walking and 20% riding. (Don't take my numbers seriously, ever, because according to Kolter my exaggeration with numbers is borderline absurd). Walking up and down stairs 20% began to take it's toll on our sore legs and because you always manage to get more sore as the day goes on... I was ready to cry half way through the day! After the work out class we get stretched and semi-massaged for free from Peter who we thought was stalking us. Not about to get thrown to the wolves as he told me follow him, I grab Lori's arm vigorously (sorry Lori- I don't think I said I was sorry, although you were trying to abandon me) and make our way to the chiropractic tables. Don't be concerned people- he worked at the gym, is licensed and I didn't really think anything bad was going to happen in the middle of a busy gym.
Peter, the massage therapist/ physical therapist/ apparently psychological therapist/ turned out to be amazing and one of my highlight experiences of this trip. HE was amazing at his job and knowledgeable about the physiology of the human body. I was a little nervous at first, but we were in the middle of tons of people working out and lori was close by waiting for her turn. He was quite incredible!!! I learned a ton about stress and how breathing correctly and relaxing the body can relive much stress and anxiety. I was told not to wear my mouth card and stretch my jaw instead. I learned that being ticklish is something you can control by breathing and relaxing, I learned that I will be "dangerous" if I learned to relax and calm down, I learned I can't control much about life so I need to reevaluate my thinking process so I won't be as stressed and crazy all the time (Kolt would appreciate this).
I learned that holding tension in the body is probably 80% of my high stress levels and anxiety. He knew I had stress and anxeity the minute he put pressure on my neck. The pressure points he was hitting would hurt at first or tickle, but as he would talk me through questions that were set up to either relax me or make me tense- he could give me reasoning on why I shouldn't be stressed out- how I couldn't control these things that freaked me out and then... I would relax and I could the pressure points give in... I could literally feel my body make its way into a state of... relaxation. GASP! It was really wonderful. Needless to say... I'll be back.
Lori and I spend the rest of Wednesday walking around and eating (always a definite with us) and made our way to the hotel around 8pm to email sublets through craigslist. It wasn't looking good at this point. I passed out at some point and woke up at 6:15 the next morning anxious and terrified we wouldn't find an apt. I packed my laptop so we could research throughout the day and we made our way to Manhattan early to meet with a potential sublet on E. 96th street. The walk to the apartment was okay, but it was far and didn't feel as safe as I'd like to feel when walking home from the subway. We met with a guy anyway in an apartment building with an elevator (that's a plus as most places in our price range are walk ups) and found the apartment really big and wonderful. Just didn't like the area that border lined Spanish Harlem. We told him we would call him if we didn't find anything else, but I knew I'd rather not find anything else than live there.
We went to Union Square lululemon and met with the manager who was super sweet and friendly. Lori was going to be working on Saturday morning for a game day so it was good for her to know the area. I had been making Lori find locations and use hopstop to navigate us through the subway system. I felt like I knew my way around understanding the subway lines and wanted Lori to have the same confidence.
Side story: On our shopping day on Friday- I wanted Lori to be Christopher Columbus all day and figure out our routes and such. Let's just say, it didn't work out as planned because I'm pretty positive she didn't take it seriously, she still relied on me based off the fact she didn't pay attention to the stops and where to get off at... and she was sick of me quizzing her all the time. This downward spiraled into me loosing her at one point in the subway.. I waited around the corner for so long I figured she had either really lost me or had already found her way to the right train. I decided I would just get on the train back to the hotel, and hope she would find her way. It would have been the true test. As I walked into a cart... I backed out unable to really leave my best friend IF in fact she was still behind... and then I saw her coming down the stairs. She looked a little stressed (which Lori is never really stressed) and upset. I was in a hurry to make my check in via southwest so I could get an A borading pass and we were underground so I needed to get back to the hotel asap!!! Not to mention my legs hurt BAD so I ran down the ramps and stairs trying to make the pain shorter than longer... and I guess all this made it possible to loose each other. I explained this to her... she told me I should have been looking behind me making sure she was still in sight... We each finished explaining our reasoning and versions of wtf has just happened... and right there in the subway we kind of had a mini-fight (one we will remember as something funny) and as we came to the acceptance of what had happened with a still stubborn, upset and frustrated attitude... we boarded the subway train to queens and then something awesome happened!!!
Mexican musicians found their way into our stressed out subway cart and began playing Mexican music... take a second and vision this... sound and atmosphere... instruments... singing... loud music... the Asian guy sitting beside me who covered his ears and closed his eyes...
Lori and I looked at each other, smiled...even let out a a little laugh and we moved on. The rest is history. -End side story.
After lululemon in union square, we went to star bucks for hours to look for sublets. I managed to email so many sublets on craigslist that craigslist send me an email banning me from emailing anymore people... apparently there's a limit! When I was about to give up... I got an email from a girl with a flex sublet starting July 1 for up to 6 months and said she had someone interested but there wasn't a commitment. We talked and made an appointment for that evening. In the mean time, Lori and I shopped for a little and made our way into Fresh. As I make arrangements for the time and place to meet Sarah with a $1600 all inclusive sublet in UES, I walk back into the store where Lori is drinking juice from a company that squeezes and delivers fresh juice to your house. I tried the juices and walked back out to take a phone call. I walk back in and Lori is siting in a chair getting a makeover! LoL. By this time we have an hour until our appointment and as I wonder around the store smelling all the soaps and reading the expensive labels on their products, I'm cordially asked if I want a free chair massage. "Well of course I do."
So there we are, Lori getting her free make over and I getting my free chair massage. FREE FREE FREE! I buy some lip scrub after my massage and wait for Lori to finish up. She wants to get a chair massage, but there wasn't enough time. She is very disappointed. lol
We make our way to 86th street Upper East Side and on our two block walk to the potential sublet Lori and I fall in love. "The air is cleaner," Lori says and there's a Starbucks, chocolate stores, GAP, Banana Republic, Banks, Restaurants and an Equinox gym on the same block at the apartment!!!! As we wait for Sarah to get off work, the clouds roll in and thunder begins and just as it begins to rain, Sarah gets in and lets us up to the apartment. Secure building with a buzzer. The area was so perfect and safe with tons of young professional walking to and from work that Lori and I decided to make an offer regardless of the apartment condition. It's a 4 floor walk up and even though that's a lot to have to carry boxes and luggage up... It will be good for us!
We meet Sarah and fall in love with the small, quaint apartment. One bedroom, small bathroom, great kitchen and cute living room. I tell her we want it and will pay right then and there and will sign the lease on her kitchen table immediately! $1600 for the perfect location in a cute apartment that's furnished and included all the bills???? It was too good to be true! She said lets go for it, and we filled out the sublet and wrote the check. First month's rent and security of one month rent that can go towards the last month we are there. Since it's a flex sublet, we just need to giver her 30 days heads up. Amazing.
SQUEALS!!!!!! My mom was right... as Lori and I were emailing hundreds of sublets on craigslist earlier that day escaping the blistering heat.. my mom knew my discouragement and she texted me "Chins up, don't get discouraged so easily! So what if it's hot as hell, your young and you can take it." Followed by, "you will find a sublet somewhere may not be exactly what you want but it will be good enough."
She was right and more!!! So with all this said, Lori and I have a sublet in NYC set for JULY 1. We got super lucky!!!!! I'm so nervous and excited about this new adventure, but I have anxiety about leaving Kolter, the dogs, my family and life in Ky. Everyone is being incredibly supportive and amazing though, so I'm trying to stay calm and positive. I'll be back to visit and everyone can come visit me. Peter "the therapist" as I will call him was pressing a pressure point into my shoulders and asked what I had anxiety about and as I told him all the things I just wrote he said... "how far is KY?"
I said, "a 3 hour plane ride"... I could feel myself relax.
He said, "are you leaving your boyfriend?"
I said, "Yes, but we aren't breaking up." I relaxed even more.
There's nothing I should be stressed about as far as love... I have all the love in the world from my BF, family and friends and by me full-filling my dreams to make something of my self, obtain self-worth and find myself... find a career... be happy and feel like I'm doing something I want to do... life is good. My best friend will be with me on this next chapter and our lives will change forever. I can't wait to feel full-filled in my career life... have my goals in tact and feel like I'm on a path towards success instead of feeling like I'm just getting by like I have felt for the past few years. This is not to say that I wasn't happy... I just didn't feel full-filled and if you've ever had a dream and goals... you know what I'm talking about.
I will miss the kids I babysit more than I think I am prepared for, I am very thankful for the job and experiences I got through my nannying job. Being a part of those kids lives made me realize my excitement to become a mother (one day!!! Though, probably not so far away) and I will cherish the precious relationship's with those kids that have evolved into something special.
All my family- grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins... Carrie and Torin, friends, my brother and mom and dad who are supportive and excited for me... I couldn't ask for more! Thank you.... and there will never be a goodbye!
So with this said... and all that is set... here I go...
I had been working with brokers over the phone for a couple months now and everyone was telling me we were looking to early. So Lori and I booked flights a couple weeks before our moving date and one week after the first of the month. With a moving date set for July 1, I panicked when I realized the paper work involved to get a lease in NYC was more intense then buying a home, a car, maybe even harder than adopting a baby. (not really, but close.) I understand all the reasoning from brokers, landlords, management companies, and all of the other parties involved in this process, but it's still frustrating. We decided a sublet was best for a few months in NYC until we could get all the paper work together and find a guarantor for the lease. I had been emailing a girl about a sublet a couple days before we flew to the city and really thought all we had to do was pay and we'd have some where to stay for two months. In the words of Jillian Michaels, "Think again Buddy!!!"
Wednesday June 8: I meet Lori at baggage claim and we get a cab to Long Island City to the Fairfield Inn (Thanks to the Buttons for helping us find an affordable hotel). We make our way towards Manhattan via subway and manage to get on the wrong train. I wasn't as anxiety prone with the subway system this time around- having been here in 2009 really helped me not panic so easily. So Lori and I were able to find our way with the Hopstop app and by asking around. All you have to do is ask someone if you're lost and if they know they're way around they will offer advice and direction without an attitude... This is something I will be forever grateful for. Soon, Lori and I can offer direction and advice to newcomers and tourists on the subway, although they might not want to trust us for a few months.
That afternoon, we meet the potential sublet in midtown east. And although the location was good and the apartment was good.... it basically falls through as we walk out the door. There was something in the girl's tone and lack of knowledge about anything that made me think "find something else." Although she promised to call with information on the next steps to take, I had a feeling it wasn't going to work out. The location was perfect and safe, but we needed to have back up. We walked in the 100 degree- nyc polluted- crowded humidity that was waiting to kill someone and made our way towards lululemon east 66th street. Lori is transferrring from the South Florida location and I'm trying to work there because I love their clothes and want to be surrounded by people who love working out, are positive, pursing dreams and work for a company that supports their employee's goals. I need a pay check too, but retail isn't really about the money. It will be a perfect transition job and if I get to work at Pure Barre it will be a double threat! I'll learn, grow, make friends and be able to wear comfortable clothes everyday. Can't beat that. We arrived early for our meeting and were greeted with friendly, happy lululemon employees happy to talk with us. The meeting went well and we will hear back next Friday. Lori and I also walked into every lululemon in the city and introduced ourselves, so if not 66th street store, another store will probably be hiring.
While saying our goodbyes at the store, we arranged a class for the next morning at Equinox gym (amazing, modern and cool gym with the best instructors and classes ever) with a couple girls from the store. We would be taking a class called "drenched" with Keoni and although I was nervous I was going to die in this cardio class, I was super excited to work out in NYC and make some friends. Keoni was amazing and spirited. His body was ridiculous and he told the story of how 147lbs earlier he didn't always have the raging 20 pack abs and lean body! He was an inspiration and motivator and I want to be his best friend. Ha
The class was amazing... didn't feel that hard while we were sweating, but we felt the pain the next day when we couldn't sit or walk down stairs without a look of painful horror! In new york city the subway is 20% stairs, 20% stinky, 40% walking and 20% riding. (Don't take my numbers seriously, ever, because according to Kolter my exaggeration with numbers is borderline absurd). Walking up and down stairs 20% began to take it's toll on our sore legs and because you always manage to get more sore as the day goes on... I was ready to cry half way through the day! After the work out class we get stretched and semi-massaged for free from Peter who we thought was stalking us. Not about to get thrown to the wolves as he told me follow him, I grab Lori's arm vigorously (sorry Lori- I don't think I said I was sorry, although you were trying to abandon me) and make our way to the chiropractic tables. Don't be concerned people- he worked at the gym, is licensed and I didn't really think anything bad was going to happen in the middle of a busy gym.
Peter, the massage therapist/ physical therapist/ apparently psychological therapist/ turned out to be amazing and one of my highlight experiences of this trip. HE was amazing at his job and knowledgeable about the physiology of the human body. I was a little nervous at first, but we were in the middle of tons of people working out and lori was close by waiting for her turn. He was quite incredible!!! I learned a ton about stress and how breathing correctly and relaxing the body can relive much stress and anxiety. I was told not to wear my mouth card and stretch my jaw instead. I learned that being ticklish is something you can control by breathing and relaxing, I learned that I will be "dangerous" if I learned to relax and calm down, I learned I can't control much about life so I need to reevaluate my thinking process so I won't be as stressed and crazy all the time (Kolt would appreciate this).
I learned that holding tension in the body is probably 80% of my high stress levels and anxiety. He knew I had stress and anxeity the minute he put pressure on my neck. The pressure points he was hitting would hurt at first or tickle, but as he would talk me through questions that were set up to either relax me or make me tense- he could give me reasoning on why I shouldn't be stressed out- how I couldn't control these things that freaked me out and then... I would relax and I could the pressure points give in... I could literally feel my body make its way into a state of... relaxation. GASP! It was really wonderful. Needless to say... I'll be back.
Lori and I spend the rest of Wednesday walking around and eating (always a definite with us) and made our way to the hotel around 8pm to email sublets through craigslist. It wasn't looking good at this point. I passed out at some point and woke up at 6:15 the next morning anxious and terrified we wouldn't find an apt. I packed my laptop so we could research throughout the day and we made our way to Manhattan early to meet with a potential sublet on E. 96th street. The walk to the apartment was okay, but it was far and didn't feel as safe as I'd like to feel when walking home from the subway. We met with a guy anyway in an apartment building with an elevator (that's a plus as most places in our price range are walk ups) and found the apartment really big and wonderful. Just didn't like the area that border lined Spanish Harlem. We told him we would call him if we didn't find anything else, but I knew I'd rather not find anything else than live there.
We went to Union Square lululemon and met with the manager who was super sweet and friendly. Lori was going to be working on Saturday morning for a game day so it was good for her to know the area. I had been making Lori find locations and use hopstop to navigate us through the subway system. I felt like I knew my way around understanding the subway lines and wanted Lori to have the same confidence.
Side story: On our shopping day on Friday- I wanted Lori to be Christopher Columbus all day and figure out our routes and such. Let's just say, it didn't work out as planned because I'm pretty positive she didn't take it seriously, she still relied on me based off the fact she didn't pay attention to the stops and where to get off at... and she was sick of me quizzing her all the time. This downward spiraled into me loosing her at one point in the subway.. I waited around the corner for so long I figured she had either really lost me or had already found her way to the right train. I decided I would just get on the train back to the hotel, and hope she would find her way. It would have been the true test. As I walked into a cart... I backed out unable to really leave my best friend IF in fact she was still behind... and then I saw her coming down the stairs. She looked a little stressed (which Lori is never really stressed) and upset. I was in a hurry to make my check in via southwest so I could get an A borading pass and we were underground so I needed to get back to the hotel asap!!! Not to mention my legs hurt BAD so I ran down the ramps and stairs trying to make the pain shorter than longer... and I guess all this made it possible to loose each other. I explained this to her... she told me I should have been looking behind me making sure she was still in sight... We each finished explaining our reasoning and versions of wtf has just happened... and right there in the subway we kind of had a mini-fight (one we will remember as something funny) and as we came to the acceptance of what had happened with a still stubborn, upset and frustrated attitude... we boarded the subway train to queens and then something awesome happened!!!
Mexican musicians found their way into our stressed out subway cart and began playing Mexican music... take a second and vision this... sound and atmosphere... instruments... singing... loud music... the Asian guy sitting beside me who covered his ears and closed his eyes...
Lori and I looked at each other, smiled...even let out a a little laugh and we moved on. The rest is history. -End side story.
After lululemon in union square, we went to star bucks for hours to look for sublets. I managed to email so many sublets on craigslist that craigslist send me an email banning me from emailing anymore people... apparently there's a limit! When I was about to give up... I got an email from a girl with a flex sublet starting July 1 for up to 6 months and said she had someone interested but there wasn't a commitment. We talked and made an appointment for that evening. In the mean time, Lori and I shopped for a little and made our way into Fresh. As I make arrangements for the time and place to meet Sarah with a $1600 all inclusive sublet in UES, I walk back into the store where Lori is drinking juice from a company that squeezes and delivers fresh juice to your house. I tried the juices and walked back out to take a phone call. I walk back in and Lori is siting in a chair getting a makeover! LoL. By this time we have an hour until our appointment and as I wonder around the store smelling all the soaps and reading the expensive labels on their products, I'm cordially asked if I want a free chair massage. "Well of course I do."
So there we are, Lori getting her free make over and I getting my free chair massage. FREE FREE FREE! I buy some lip scrub after my massage and wait for Lori to finish up. She wants to get a chair massage, but there wasn't enough time. She is very disappointed. lol
We make our way to 86th street Upper East Side and on our two block walk to the potential sublet Lori and I fall in love. "The air is cleaner," Lori says and there's a Starbucks, chocolate stores, GAP, Banana Republic, Banks, Restaurants and an Equinox gym on the same block at the apartment!!!! As we wait for Sarah to get off work, the clouds roll in and thunder begins and just as it begins to rain, Sarah gets in and lets us up to the apartment. Secure building with a buzzer. The area was so perfect and safe with tons of young professional walking to and from work that Lori and I decided to make an offer regardless of the apartment condition. It's a 4 floor walk up and even though that's a lot to have to carry boxes and luggage up... It will be good for us!
We meet Sarah and fall in love with the small, quaint apartment. One bedroom, small bathroom, great kitchen and cute living room. I tell her we want it and will pay right then and there and will sign the lease on her kitchen table immediately! $1600 for the perfect location in a cute apartment that's furnished and included all the bills???? It was too good to be true! She said lets go for it, and we filled out the sublet and wrote the check. First month's rent and security of one month rent that can go towards the last month we are there. Since it's a flex sublet, we just need to giver her 30 days heads up. Amazing.
SQUEALS!!!!!! My mom was right... as Lori and I were emailing hundreds of sublets on craigslist earlier that day escaping the blistering heat.. my mom knew my discouragement and she texted me "Chins up, don't get discouraged so easily! So what if it's hot as hell, your young and you can take it." Followed by, "you will find a sublet somewhere may not be exactly what you want but it will be good enough."
She was right and more!!! So with all this said, Lori and I have a sublet in NYC set for JULY 1. We got super lucky!!!!! I'm so nervous and excited about this new adventure, but I have anxiety about leaving Kolter, the dogs, my family and life in Ky. Everyone is being incredibly supportive and amazing though, so I'm trying to stay calm and positive. I'll be back to visit and everyone can come visit me. Peter "the therapist" as I will call him was pressing a pressure point into my shoulders and asked what I had anxiety about and as I told him all the things I just wrote he said... "how far is KY?"
I said, "a 3 hour plane ride"... I could feel myself relax.
He said, "are you leaving your boyfriend?"
I said, "Yes, but we aren't breaking up." I relaxed even more.
There's nothing I should be stressed about as far as love... I have all the love in the world from my BF, family and friends and by me full-filling my dreams to make something of my self, obtain self-worth and find myself... find a career... be happy and feel like I'm doing something I want to do... life is good. My best friend will be with me on this next chapter and our lives will change forever. I can't wait to feel full-filled in my career life... have my goals in tact and feel like I'm on a path towards success instead of feeling like I'm just getting by like I have felt for the past few years. This is not to say that I wasn't happy... I just didn't feel full-filled and if you've ever had a dream and goals... you know what I'm talking about.
I will miss the kids I babysit more than I think I am prepared for, I am very thankful for the job and experiences I got through my nannying job. Being a part of those kids lives made me realize my excitement to become a mother (one day!!! Though, probably not so far away) and I will cherish the precious relationship's with those kids that have evolved into something special.
All my family- grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins... Carrie and Torin, friends, my brother and mom and dad who are supportive and excited for me... I couldn't ask for more! Thank you.... and there will never be a goodbye!
So with this said... and all that is set... here I go...
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