Home is Where Harlem Is

Yes it's true!  I got the apartment and I'm moving in this weekend!!!

  


This tiny bedroom is all mine.

I hung my curtains and it became a sanctuary.

BRAND NEW KITCHEN!

Big empty living room, what's to do?

Throw a picnic to congratulate myself on being a grownup.


NYC, I'm here to stay.

Fill-in-the-Blank Friday!

1.  My favorite thing to do on Friday is   lead a ghost tour...oh hey!  I am leading a ghost tour TONIGHT!  Wow!.

2.   This Friday I am   doing something very special...check back in with me later to find out what!.

3.  The best thing about a weekend is   the cool, fun weekend vibe.  Everyone is more relaxed, more willing to have a good time, usually.

4. Now that summer is almost over, I'm feeling   ready to pile on the warm, soft layers!  Hot cocoa or tea?  Let's break out the quilts!.

5. The best thing I did this summer was   start going to therapy.  And visit my family in Buffalo.  Oh, and that thing I'm doing in about an hour...tease tease tease!!!.

6. The thing I'm looking forward to about fall is   not suffocating to death and dehydrating on the subway platform?  Colder weather, please!  Also:  jackets.  I am a jacket ADDICT.

7.  If I had to be stuck in one season for the rest of my life, I would choose   fall, obviously!  Still warm but getting cooler, pretty colours, and wonderful smells - cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin, vanilla!  I'm a sucker for scent-induced memory.  Take that, Marcel Proust!.

Me, Myself, & I - #2!

Ahhh!  Another month, another Me, Myself & I Link-Up Partayyyy!  Link-up with Breanna at My Beautiful, Crazy Life!


1. What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?

I'd plunge head-first into acting.  I feel bad for having bailed on that dream, even though I know it was really unhealty for me.  I'm not afraid of failing, though, so it doesn't usually deter me from trying things!



2. If you had only six months left to live, what would you do with the time?

I mean, I probably wouldn't do much differently.  Maybe quit my day job and live off my tours.  Just keep searching for happiness and answers.



3. If a front page news article was written on you, what would the headline be?

First Woman Elected President!
I should run things.  Hello!  I would make the greatest president!



4. What is your biggest pet peeve?

RUDENESS ON THE SUBWAY!

If you don't know how to behave like a human being, you shouldn't be allowed the privilege.
Guys, once and for all:

THe subway is a magical place where if you obey the rules and never talk to one another,

there will be break-dancing.

5. What is your favorite chick flick movie?

Okay, STOP what you're doing.  Turn on your Netflix.  Watch Earth Girls Are Easy.I'm not sure if it's a chick flick, or sci-fi, or a musical, or whatever.  But it's definitely my favourite comfort movie that I watch over and over.  That, and Grease 2, which you probably have to be a chick to enjoy.

Seven Things Link-Up #19!

Such a busy week!  I'll have good news by the weekend, I can't wait to share my joy with all of you!  In the meantime, I will share a photo of me from years ago:

Here I am in Central Park, a full three years before I moved here.  You can see the love I have for NYC in this photo.  That's still there today.  On to the questions!


1. Bold or Understated?

Always bold, darling. 


2. You have to survive alone in the wild and you only get to take one thing with you. Your choices are: A Pocket Knife, a Water Bottle, or a Book. Which do you choose and why?

The water bottle!  I always get dehydrated.  And thus, I'm always spending $2 on bottled water on the street.  Unacceptable!  I have to remember to bring a water bottle with me everywhere.  I drink a lot of water.  My co-workers always tease me for looking so young, and someone observed:  "Look how much water she drinks!  Of course she looks nineteen!"  So, huh.  There you go.  Stranded in the woods, looking nine years younger.


3. Thirty Two Cows, Seven Eight Chickens, How Many Didn't?

I'm so bad at maths, dude.  I forgot how to math multiplications higher than one digit.  It's embarrassing.


4. Would you rather die doing one legendary act of service or do small acts of kindness that may go unnoticed every day?

I prefer the small acts.  Not to toot my own horn, but I already feel like I do small acts of kindness every day at work.  My job is basically to make people happy.  So even if I just compliment them on their bracelets, strike up a genuine conversation about their hometown, or feed them some candy and show them something new that they like, I enjoy meeting people's needs.  Is that self-centered?  I like making people happy.  If you can give someone a gummy bear and make their eyes light up, that's amazing to me.  It takes so little effort, too!


5. Happiness is ________. (one word; fill in the blank)

Possible.


6. Can you laugh with out smiling?

Yes!  Because it's dry and creepy!  Bwah hah hah hah hah!


7. Do you pop your knuckles?
Only when my hands really hurt.  Or I'm bored at work.

Bad Reputation

I am getting somewhat of a reputation at work.

For better or for worse, the month of August has been one of me coming even further out of my shell.  Having "lost" so much this month (and still not having anywhere to live next month, eek!), I have more of a devil-may-care attitude towards everything else.  Blind dating.  Talking to co-workers.  Chatting up strangers.

Apparently, several people at work have noticed my constant pep.  I dance every second of the day.  I have to shout over the music and I make dramatic gestures.  I adore my job and I'm working hard at it.  Management has been giving me the thumbs up - I'm doing my job well, and I'm pretty fun to be around.

Hence, I have some haters.

Let me tell you something about haters.  Haters are jealous.  They see you getting attention and they want to steal your thunder.  Your pizzazz.  Your momentum.  If you let them make you tone it down, stop dancing, stop smiling, they win.  And you, by default, lose.  Don't let the haters win.


And don't give a damn about your bad reputation.

Keep On Creepin' On

Today, we raise a glass to the A train lady with the pink hair.

I've seen her on the train not just once, but twice now.  That makes her a local celebrity.

Dear miss - miz? - missus?  Your pink hair is so tastefully shocking.  So shockingly tasteful.  You wear your magenta stripe as though it were the most natural thing in the world.  As though, instead of going gray, you are going awesome.  And mad props on pulling off the toe rings.

instaLIFE Link-Up @ Silver Lining!

Hey gang, I'm not dead.  But I am in limbo.  I'm waiting to hear back on the apartment I (and my new roomie!) applied for on Saturday.  Sunday, being a non-business day (for everyone but me) was slow torture!  If I don't hear from the realtor by work this evening, who knows whether or not I will be "homeless" next month!  How am I dealing with the stress?

1.  Inexplicably losing weight rapidly, so that my shorts no longer fit and, in the absence of a belt (I left it at work), I tied my long shirt to my belt loops to anchor my pants to my body.  Like a boss.

2.  Taking a million trains everywhere.  I lurve you, Unlimited Monthly MetroCard.  At least I can sit on plastic seats with my head in my hands worrying about my tax returns and credit score, instead of having to pedal around Manhattan on the world's most giraffe-ish bike.

3.  Searching for answers.  

Aw, NO!  There ARE no answers?

Only QUESTIONS?

Who decided that?

Sigh.  Link up with Brooke at Silver Lining, and follow me on Instagram @meghansara !

Back in the New York Groove

Last night was a little scary.  I realized at work that I have no "official" place to live in two weeks.  Long story, won't get into details, but basically, some plans fell through and I was afraid.  Afraid that all was lost.

I was thinking lately about loss.  It seems to me that the more you have, the more you stand to lose.  I'm not just talking about $5 Ray-Ban knockoffs from Chinatown.  The more you love, the more you hope, the more you dream - the more you stand to lose.  Is that depressing? 

I don't think it's depressing.  I've realized, when you have nothing to lose, you have everything to gain.  Sure, I may still have some things - a little money, my health, my talents (blush blush).  And you!  My friends!  Not to be too cliche, but if it weren't for an awesome network of friends, I would be completely lost right now!



I once received a fortune cookie that I scoffed at:

"Life to you is a bold and dashing adventure"

To me?  Me, who is afraid of everything?  Surely you can't be serious.  The very concept of adventure, I balk.  Balked.  That is to say, at one time, I balked.

This "new" me has been thinking about that cookie a lot lately.  I know, it was just a cookie.  But out of the ashes of some major and many tiny setbacks has risen an optimism, a tireless zeal, a dazzling firecracker.  Perhaps adversity suits me. 

In case you're wondering, five hours of sleep and thousands of emails later, it looks like things are going to work out.  That's it, gang.  No more "Wah, wah, poor me" posts, I promise.  Let's celebrate.  I'm staying in New York City.  Baby, you'd better believe...

Fill in the Blank Friday!

1.  The best thing to do on a hot day is   veg out in front of a good movie!  It's lame, I know, but I loathe the heat.  I was born in the summer, and it's never forgiven me.

2.   The best place to be on a hot day is   Vestal, New York.  When I visited in July, I sat out on the back deck in jeans and a sweater - no kidding!.

See?  Fuzzy green sweater in late July.

3.  The best thing to eat on a hot day is   Ramen noodles...is that silly?  I'm on a huge Ramen kick, which is good, I guess, for saving money!.

4. Hot days   suck the energy out of you!  I can't wait for fall.

5. My go to uniform on a warm summer day is   the purple dress I bought at Kohl's for $3.  I've even seen other people around town wearing it!  It's light and super casual.  I just throw it on to go to work, change into my uniform, wear it home, then into loungewear.  Lazy summer days!.

6. The scent that reminds me of summer is   sunscreen and cherry blossoms.

7.  My favorite thing about summer is   my birthday, perhaps?  I like that summer has a lively verve about it.  By winter, you miss being kept warm by the sun, the spontaneous concerts everywhere, the laid-back strolls.  But then, it's easier to keep warm that it is cool, and a little chill never deterred me from adventure!.

Things I Love Thursday: Self-Serving Edition

I keep intending to re-post some of my old favourite posts here!  When I tell people that I blog, they ask what I write about.  My response is usually along the lines of "Um...stuff?" because, I don't know, like, STUFF!  If you, like me, can't figure out what the hell I'm doing on the blogosphere, maybe I can put it to you this way:

Source

Sometimes, weird stuff happens to me on the subway:

Like the time I saw a lover's quarrel  (Romeo, Romeo...?)

Like the time I saw lovers reunited  (New York, I Love You)

Like the time I witnessed a poetic genius rambling (Beat Poetry, OR The Ravings of an Unstable Lunatic?)

Sometimes, I cut holes in my t-shirts:

To look sorta trashy  (Cut Out Wings T-Shirt DIY)

To look trailer-trashy  (I Made A Shirt)

To look mega-trashy, completely on purpose  (DIY Trashy T-shirt)

Sometimes, I take long walks to eat ice cream:

Like Malu


Like Emack & Bolio's, which I just had for my birthday!

Like Ample Hills Creamery, which I go back to all the time now (Brooklyn, you ARE okay after all!)

And sometimes, I just rant on and on:

About Zooey Deschanel

About icky things that happen to me

About boobs

And about Zooey Deschanel.



So clearly, I live a full life on the internet. 

7 Things Link-Up #18!

Hey there, party people, it's time again for Gentri Lee's Seven Questions link-up!

I have no exciting photos this week.  I've been at work.  I tried to get a photo of me dancing around wearing a giant doughnut, but you'll just have to accept this instead for now:

1. It's back to school time! Are YOU going back to school?
As I tell the well-meaning folks who ask me this, school was a LONG time ago for me.  I just celebrated ten years out of high school.  College, five years out for me.  So, no.  No school.  Not yet, anyway...

2. Speaking of back to school... You receive 10 pts if you can name this movie:

"Don't you love New York in the fall? It makes me wanna buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address. On the other hand, this not knowing has its charms."
Duh!  You've Got Mail!  Sweet movie!  And BTW, New York in the fall is THE GREATEST.

3. Who did you hang out with in school? Cool kids, jocks, nerds, were you a loner, etc? (all are welcome here- btw)
I was a band geek and a theatre nerd.  So I was totally cool.  But by senior year the cool kids who used to tease me had warmed up to me!  It was actually kind of scary.  I kept expecting them to pour pig's blood on me!  Maybe that's why I never went to senior prom...?

4. What was your favorite subject in school?
I was a total nerd.  I lived for my theatre class, of course, but I also really liked Spanish and Anatomy & Physiology, both classes I took for college credit.  With high marks, of course!

5. (I've asked this question before, but it was a while ago) If you had to go back and redo one of the following, which would you choose and why? Preschool, Elementary, Middle School, High School, College?

Last time, I said High School.  This time I'll say college.  I could have done more in my college years - and I'm not just talking about beer pong - that are harder to do now.  Don't get me wrong - my life is great now.  But college is a wonderful time.  I hope everyone in college reading this takes full advantage of their freedom and enjoys it!

6. Home/ Packed Lunch or School Lunch?
Home packed. I pack my lunch every day to work.  Like a lame-o.  Half a peanut butter sandwich on whole grain bread.

7. What's more exciting? The first day of school or the last day of school?
First day, in a jarring and upsetting kind of way.  Last day is always sad, but the first day is scary, exciting, frustrating, and enticing all at once!  I still have nightmares about first days, losing my schedule, not being able to find classes.  That's exciting, you have to admit!

Everybody Wants to Rule the World

Bonnie at Life of Bon is hosting a sweet link-up today!  And since my internet is working again, I have rejoined the world.  Now I get to pretend to rule it.

First order of business, the internet always works!  How do you like me so far?

Also, 24-hour laundromats.  Guess why they're called "business hours"?  Because people got other business to do!  After hours, the laundromats will stop playing schlocky pop music and will have karaoke.  Maybe a bar.  Definitely fondue.  Perhaps I'm getting a bit carried away...

And hey, ladies!  No more dating games!  If you like someone, you TEXT THEM.  If they don't text back, you LEAVE THEM ALONE.  No more of this silly wait-three-days nonsense.  Impolite!  Just be a human being and 'fess up and text "I had fun last night, let's get fondue this weekend."

As I was writing this post, all I could think of was this song:

This is the song I sing at work when people complain that we're closed.  Everything closes, guys.

Except the 24-hour Fondue Laundromat.

Mani Mondays: Ermahgerd Cupcakes

As soon as I saw cupcake nails on a customer at work, I knew I had to try them.

Here's the play-by-play:

Paint the bottom of the nail one solid colour (pink).  Once dry, add a slightly contrasting stripe (fuchsia)

Add blobby white frosting on top.  Then take a shaky, blurry picture of it.

Dip dop, cherry on top.

Glitter for sprinkles.


Work has been amazing lately.
Yesterday I wore an inflatable doughnut-shaped inner tube like a sash and danced around.

For four hours.

And got paid to do so.

Everyone wanted to take their picture with me.

I was born to be Doughnut Girl.

Speaking of work, here's one of my favourite tunes we play at work, for your listening enjoyment:

Fill in the Blank Friday!

1.  The age I will be on my upcoming birthday is  29, because I turned 28 a week and a half ago.  But I still have almost a full year of 28 left, so don't rush me!

2.   The best birthday present ever would be   a new apartment in my current neighborhood?  Okay I'll do that part myself.  The present can be a bedroom set.

3.  My favorite birthday to date was   my 25th birthday, because I celebrated for an entire weekend and even had a mini-surprise party!  I also came really close to dancing in the fountain at Washington Square Park...but it was a bit chilly so I changed my mind.

4. Birthdays make me feel    old?  Hah.  Reflective.  Another year, how much farther I have to go, where I am.

5. The worst birthday I ever had was   my 26th birthday.  I was stuck in a rut and felt helpless and let down after the awesome birthday I'd had the year before.

6. When I was born  it was a hot summer, early in the morning.  Which could be why I can't stand heat, and never seem to sleep in late.

7.  So far my favorite age has been   25.  That whole year was pretty rad.  But I have high hopes for this year, too.

Things I Love Thursday: Kyle MacLachlan

I have often said that Kyle MacLachlan is an underrated actor.  But I've never said it here.  So now I'm saying it.  Kyle MacLachlan is an underrated actor.  Let's rate him.

He chicken walked his way into our hearts in Blue Velvet...

He was DAMN FINE in Twin Peaks!

He shocked us in Showgirls...but I couldn't find any videos I could link to here.  You have to watch the movie!


He kind of ended up disappointing us in Sex and the City (much like Charlotte)...because he was only in it for like a minute! (and because of the cardboard baby).

And he was "scary" goo on How I Met Your Mother as "The Captain," but I couldn't find any clips.
Let's not forget all the times he was on Law & Order!

How many degrees of separation between myself and Kyle MacLachlin? 

Kyle MacLachlin's wife, Desiree Gruber, is an executive producer for Project Runway.

I was involved in the filming of one of the episodes of Project Runway this season.

That makes us BFFs, obviously.

Nice to know you, Kyle.

Seven Things Link-Up #17

Back again with Gentri Lee's Seven Questions Link-Up!  I haven't a funny photo of myself this week as I've been working almost NON-STOP!  But here's a funny picture of a 4lb can of tuna:

Sorry it's blurry, I was trying to be stealthy.  Who takes pictures in grocery stores?  I don't know if 4lb cans of tuna are common in your neck of the woods.  How about an aisle where the religious candles are right underneath the silly string?  I didn't dare take a picture there.  Moving on to the questions!


1. The Olympics are awesome! What's your favorite Summer Olympic event to watch?

Eek!  I haven't been watching the Olympics!  I don't get television channels and I'm not really into sports.  I used to like watching gymnastics, but then I started to feel lazy, attempted to teach myself to do a split, failed, and felt even more lazy.  That was the end of the affair.

2. If you could compete in an Olympic event (either season), which would it be?

Curling, curling, curling.  It's like lawn bowling, with a bigger, prettier stone.

3. Would you rather be tickled to death or poked (by finger) constantly for the rest of your life?

I loathe being tickled.  I'll take the poke, please.

4. Do you keep your nails long or short? Square or round?

My nails are short and rounded.  I hate long nails (on me).  After they get past a certain point, I feel like I can't do anything with my hands.  Like yesterday, I couldn't open a Smart Water because they were too long.  And also, I guess, because I'm not smart?

5. Do you think you're funny?

Don't you?

6. When you have something you're looking forward to SO much, but it's still a ways off, what do you do to keep yourself distracted?

Work helps.  Getting caught up in work is a huge time-speeder. 

7. You've just won an Olympic Gold Medal! What are you going to do next?!?!

WEAR IT EVERYWHERE.

Making Peace With Zooey Deschanel

My relationship with Zooey Deschanel is troubled.  I loved her in Failure to Launch, but can't abide 500 Days of Summer.  Not to mention she's always copying my style:  look at the similarities here.  This is my headshot from 2009:

And here is a photo of Ms. Deschanel, found on Pinterest:

Source: google.com.mx via Jesús Ademir on Pinterest

COPYING ME!!!

But something magical happened at work the other day, something I cannot explain! 

Through the window, I can see the ads at the subway entrance at 59th & Lex.  Advertizing is dangerous, yo.  Repeated exposure to ads for My Generation, the ABC drama that only lasted two episodes, made me completely addicted to the series.  It also led me to Master Chef, so who am I to question the universe.

Anyway, I was dragging through the workday, when I saw an ad for the new season of New Girl!  Which I started watching last season ironically, then enjoying ironically, then genuinely enjoying.

Source: images2.fanpop.com via Rachel on Pinterest

And she came to me, like an angel, with her big bangs and baby blues:  Zooey Deschanel.  A beacon of cheerfulness and good will.  Smiling and beaming her perky rays of cupcake feminism through the window to me -

and I became changed.  I started smiling more, dancing more, being nicer to customers.  I have seen the gospel of Zooey Deschanel and it was good.

Source: weheartit.com via Jessica on Pinterest

Consider me reformed.

Mani Mondays - EXTERMINATE!!!

Yesterday, I finally went to The Way Station, which is a bar out in Brooklyn that has a TARDIS.  If you don't know what a TARDIS is, feel free to skip this post.

SO THERE'S A TARDIS!  In this bar and it just so happens to be a bathroom and you know I have no shame taking pictures inside of bathrooms, which is totally what I did:

Therefore, I decided this week's nails would be Dalek-inspired.  I don't know how well I captured the terror, but I think I got the dots down:

So tell me, who's your favourite Doctor?

Who's your favourite companion?

UPDATE!  I added gold to it and it's AMAZING now:

Yoga in the Park with Yuppies

...yoga always makes me laugh to myself.

no offense.

but watching people do yoga is pretty hilarious.

Fill-in-the-Blank Friday!

1.  I am proud of  getting my damaged and possibly crazy self into therapy, even if it's "late," hopefully it's not "too late," you know what I mean?

2.   This weekend I will   be giving at least one ghost tour, and working.  It never ends!  I'm glad I enjoyed my vacation so thoroughly because it doesn't look like I'll get a day off anytime soon!

3.  A secret dream I have is  to be a writer.  Ugh, surprise?  But I've always hoped I could reach people with my words.

4. I can't handle  the street harassment during the summer.  Today as I was leaving therapy to walk to the bus, I was wearing my big sunglasses because I was still tearing up and feeling very raw.  I crossed the street and a random stranger looked me up and down and went "Helllloooooooo!"  It was so disgusting and disturbing.

5. The most annoying thing in the entire world is   tourists tourists TOURISTS!!!  I'm sorry, but YOUR once-in-a-lifetime experience is MY walk to work.  This isn't Disneyland, it's an actual city.  Please don't think it's okay to take pictures while crossing the street or - UGH! - touch strangers affectionately.  If I wanted to hug random kids and take pictures with your family, I'd be dressed like a Disney princess.  DO YOU SEE A TIARA?! 

Now, tourists who act like normal human beings, they're fine.  It's the rude, entitled, clueless, "touchy" ones I can't stand.

6. The most relaxing thing in the entire world is  a hot foot soak.  And maybe catching up on Hulu, washing some dishes, hand-washing some laundry, and making something.  I want a new knitting project!  And a new Britcom to watch while I make it!

7.  I think everyone should  chill out and calm down.  Trust me, things are easier on the chill side.

Things I Love Thursday: Gangnam Style

My favourite local bodega owner introduced me to this video a week ago and I have watched it like a million times in the meantime.  I'm going to miss that bodega.  And it's owner. 

But I'm going to learn this choreography and be amazing at it.

Seven Things Link-Up #16

They're ba-ack!  They're ba-ack!  Gentri Lee's 7 Questions.  And oh, how they were missed.  Not to sound like a creeper or anything, but every Tuesday I would helplessly refresh Gentri's facebook page in the hopes of seeing that week's 7 Questions prompts.  Okay, yeah, I'm a creeper.  A weird sick creeper who takes mirror pics in her Grandma's upstairs mint-green bathroom:

And, er, let's just answer the questions, then, shall we?


1. It's the first day of August- Are you savoring the Summer or ready to jump into Fall?

As soon as my birthday is over (which is July 31st), I'm so ready for Fall.  I was ready for it weeks ago.  The humidity here is AWFUL.  I can't wait for chambray shirts and BOOTS and to use the amazing scarf I knit(ted?) for myself last year.  I want it to be cold enough to stroll about without soaking your clothes in sweat and getting headaches from dehydration!  Fall has always been my favourite season!


2. You need a quick and healthy meal, what do you make?

I pack myself a half-sandwich of peanut butter and multi-grain bread for work every day.  It's horrible and monotonous and I loathe eating it, but I always return to my shift with more energy.  Huh.


3. You're at the mall, how do you shop?

Strategically.  I go to the clearance rack, look for the flashiest and/or ugliest thing on the rack, and if it's less than $7 and fits, I buy it.  Is there a rehab for this sort of destructive behavior?


4. Would you rather buy a new house or renovate an old one?

I once had fantasies of owning a large old house, fixing it up (mostly with paint, you know, easy stuff) and letting friends and family stay there as long as they needed.  But now, with bugs and supers and all that, I'd rather have something newly renovated to move into.


5. Long hair or short hair?

I love my hair short.  When it gets long, I feel it looks stringy and thin, and it tangles constantly!  Though, I must admit, after seeing this picture, I did want to grow my hair long:

Source: allthatglittersisgirly.tumblr.com via Meghan-Sara on Pinterest

But I can wait a while for it to grow out long enough to cut into this style:

Source: google.com via Meghan-Sara on Pinterest

6. Who is your oldest (not by age) friend?

I have many friends to this day who I met in middle school.  Some from elementary school.  I don't want to name names and make people feel bad, though. 


7. What is your favorite blog- currently?

I'm always excited to see a new post at Life of Bon - and I'm jealous that Bonnie gets to go back to school!  This year, I want to look into programs to go into teaching.  It's something I always wanted to go into eventually, but I'm starting to see the senselessness of postponing goals and think I should try to do it now.  Her writing is snappy, her stories are engaging, and (here is where I sound like a creeper - again) when she smiles in her pictures, you can tell she really means it, you know?  I'm a sucker for sincerity.