Moustache

Moustache
Originally uploaded by akeegangu

Viking hat

Viking hat
Originally uploaded by akeegangu

List

I'm enjoying writing the blog in list form. Today, an outline:

I. Since no one jumped at the chance to buy me a 4th of july present, I bought myself those shoes I wanted. They are AWESOME. They feel like sneakers, but they're 3 inch heels!! AMAZING. I highly recommend them. Buy now...

II. I got a job offer today. Will divulge more details when I decide whether I'm going to accept/reject but I'm excited about it.

III. Sorry to anyone who doesn't also have Myspace, Facebook or whatever other social networking site you have to have to be friends with me and didn't get to see the picture of me in the viking hat and fake mustache (I really prefer spelling it 'moustache'). It was tremendous and I'll post it on here momentarily.

IV. I had a really, really fun time with a great new friend of mine on Friday. Her name is Aliy Lane and she is a friend of my cousin Steve. They went to college together and she just graduated and moved to NY to start the glorious and glamorous life of Public Relations! We were fast friends and I'm so excited for another new friend here. She said, you know, I'm going out with these girls who I've only known for like 2 months, and I said, listen, everyone in NY has only known their friends for like 2 months. It's the beauty of the city. No matter what friends go, there is always a new batch right around the corner. I think she's going to play dodgeball too which ROCKS.

V. So in my last post I said I went to the track. Well let me clarify the utter LAMENESS of the track. I was there with MSNBC.com and there was free booze and food which was awesome but there is a significant difference between awesome jockey on top, full out gallop, thoroughbred horse racing and trotting cart racing. The jockeys sit in this little cart behind the horse and they can't go any faster than a trot. I pretty much lost interest in the racing after about 2 races. I did bet on one horse near the end of the races because it's name was "dodgeball." It was a dud though. Even lucky number 7 and it came in around the end of the pack.

VI. I was thinking of putting this in its own post because it's worth it, but I'm on a roll with the roman numerals. Today I had day 1 of my jury duty. Now, it's a darn good thing in my career, I am not required to work with the general public. Case in point: in the jury room there were HUGE signs at the counter that specifically said, "DO NOT APPROACH THE COUNTER. HAVE A SEAT AND WAIT FOR INSTRUCTIONS." Now we had to be there at 8:45 am, and there were people who decided to saunter in up to 2 HOURS late, proceed to go straight up to the counter, stand right between the 2 HUGE signs, ignore them and ask the lady what they should be doing. MAN she was TOUGH though. She said, "Read the sign. TAKE A SEAT." And I wanted to say, "If you were here at 8:45 when you were supposed to be you would have HEARD the instructions!!!" Lucky for me I never got called today and I got to go home at 1. Have to go back at 9:45 tomorrow and hopefully I won't get called tomorrow either and that'll be it. You have to be there for 2 days and if you're not on a trial, you're done for 4 years! Fingers crossed.

crazy saturday

I'm just going to list a few things that made up my day yesterday. It was wild.
Meadowlands Racetrack
Cart racing
A horse named Dodgeball
Bowling at the Port Authority bus terminal
A viking helmet
A fake mustache
Karaoke
A Korean BBQ FEAST at 3 am
Now, it is raining so I'm just hanging out recovering from the delight of it all!

Celebrity sighting (sort of)

I was just at the gym and I saw John Norris of MTV News fame (those of you my age I'm sure you know who is he, look him up, I promise you do). He was tearing it up on the back extension and sit up machine. Ah, D-list celebrity sightings!

Hot fudge in a helmet

So I just went to the Mets game and had the most ridiculous experience. Why do these things always happen to me!!? I went to the carvel ice cream stand wanting a hot fudge sundae in a miniature Mets helmet because let's be honest, what's better than that?! So I ordered exactly that and the lady said, Sorry you can only get it in a paper cup, not the helmet. I said excuse me? And she said, yes, you can get ice cream or ice cream and sprinkles in the helmet but no hot fudge in the helmet. And I said, well that's the stupidest thing I've ever heard! I want ice cream and hot fudge in a helmet. And she said, well, I'm sorry ma'am we only give out hot fudge in the paper cup. So I said, WHY!?!? Then her supervisor takes over and says, the hot fudge is like 200 degrees, it might crack the helmet. I reply, I'LL RISK IT!! They still REFUSED to give it to me, I had to get sprinkles!! I could have probably ordered some hot fudge on the side but I was just hoping to get SOMETHING from them at this point without getting kicked out of the Carvel stand. The souvenir helmet is worth it though. We took some sweet pictures with it at the game.

But the hot fudge in the helmet would have been tremendous.

tiiiired

I'm tired today, I got back from a 5.25 mile run in 60 minutes today. On the treadmill, but still tough. Tonight I'm going to the Mets game with 3 of my friends. I can't wait for a hot dog!!!! I'm getting much closer to a job. Will report soon...

SUCCESS!

Well, Rich made it over this afternoon and we successfully got the air conditioner in the window. Let me just say, it was DEFINITELY a 2 person job. As I was shutting the window he most certainly uttered "WHOA! That almost fell down!" So good thing I didn't attempt to do this myself. Anyway, it's about 75 degrees and falling in here. Feels goooooooooood.

Virgin Atlantic

So as some of you may or may not know, I am a bit of a fanatic about HUGE airplanes, 747s being my favorite. Yesterday I was driving out to get the air conditioner and I had to switch freeways right by Newark Airport. There was traffic on the off ramp so I came to almost a complete stop and right as I'm sitting there a HUGE 747 Virgin Atlantic plane flies right in front of me on its way to land. It couldn't have been more than 200 feet in the air at this point as the end of the runway is right by this interchange. It was really neat.

Air conditioner!!!

I have FINALLY scored an air conditioner. My friend Keith (from dodgeball) used to live in a house by himself but moved back in with his parents, so he had a couple extra air conditioners. He took pity on my broke ass and gave me one of them. Now, fun with installing it. My friend Rich's office is less than 1 block away from where that crazy explosion was in midtown so he hasn't been able to go to work for the last few days. If he can't go today he said he's going to come over and help me. The last thing I want to do is end up like that Seinfeld episode where Kramer drops the air conditioner out the window. Tonight, I should be able to sleep in 70 degree bliss!

New Low

I've hit a new unemployment low. I actually gave Kate legal advice yesterday based on what I learned on Judge Mathis. This may be the lowest of the low.

Thunderstorm

Now, I know I've mentioned this before, but I felt it was worth another post. This morning, as I was sound asleep I was jolted awake by a flash of light and huge echoing bang. Yes, as you might guess, it was thunder and lightning but there is a serious difference between thunderstorms in NY and elsewhere. Imagine a clap of thunder not only hitting, but reverberating throughout the concrete jungle. It is louder than any thunder I've ever heard. Needless to say, I was awake through the whole storm, pretty impossible to sleep through that. Things are a little crazy with floods now but the storm has moved through.

I heart Apple

So even though my last trip to the Apple Store put me smack dab in the middle of a real life Abbot and Costello routine, I still heart Apple. Today, my Airport (the wireless in Apple computers) stopped working for the 2nd time. In under 20 minutes on the phone with my Apple Care specialist, my computer is back up and running. AND THEN they emailed me instructions for what they had me do over the phone so I wouldn't even have to spend 20 minutes if it happened again. I would still be working my way through the Microsoft caller menu (I can say that now that I don't work there). :)

stuff

1. My sis got a job!!!!! Permanent job, with a good salary, benefits, vacation, the whole shebang! I'm so excited for her! it's with the same company (mga entertainment, the bratz people) she was working for before. Now, my turn...
2. We're (Kate and I) going to the Bahamas in February!! My good friends Megan and Hugh are getting married there February 2, so she is going to be my date and we're going to make a vacation out of it. Anyone else want to come?
3. I'm really getting to be in good shape with this ridiculous workout program. Today, I did cardio. I did 5.2 miles in 60 minutes, with my fastest mile at 9:36 and including a little warm up/cool down at the beginning and end. Sure wish I could keep this up when I'm working. The 8 hours free during the day sure makes it easy! We'll see if I"m able to.
4. Went to the Mets game yesterday, it was really fun. I went with my friends Laura and Allie. We had hot dogs, beers, peanuts and lots of sun! Great afternoon.
5. 2 interviews tomorrow, wish me luck!!

one more thing...

This wrecking ball thing really has me amused today and I just had a hilarious conversation with my friend Will over IM about it:

I asked him if he'd seen the wrecking ball story.

He said: wrecking ball: yes, real life simpsons, homer the crane operator

I said: I am SO amused by the wrecking ball thing. As long as no one gets hurt

he said: thought three were hurt in the wrecking ball thing

I said: oh yeah, you're right. well i hope they weren't hurt too badly, cause the image of it in my head is just too much

he said: all I can think of is the crane operator

I said: AKA Homer Simpson

he said: with each car it hit

d'oh!

d'oh!

d'oh!

d'oh!

d'oh!

d'oh!

d'oh!

HOLY CRAP!!

or as Lewis would say, Holy Schneikies:
Watch out below!

Saturday afternoon rambling

Happy Saturday everyone. I hope everyone out west is staying cool, and everyone out here is enjoying some nice weather (not sure what it's like half way but I hope it's nice). I had a really nice week this week. My old friend Mellad (former college roomie) and his wife Sulo, who currently live in Spokane came out to visit. They were here from Friday to Wednesday. We had a great time in the city, eating, exploring and just hanging out. They headed down to Washington for the 4th to visit other former college roomies Brian and Julia. It was REALLY great to see them, I'm so happy they came!

As Mellad and Sulo headed out, my cousin Billy Kurzenberger AKA the BK Broiler (isn't that a GREAT nickname!?) came up from NJ. We went to the Yanks game (Twins won! WOOHOO!) and then went over to the FDR Drive to watch the fireworks. It's cool, they close down the whole street and it's just a big block party on the street. My friends Drew and Laura AKA Draura had dinner and fireworks with us. It was a really delightful night. I'm really happy to spend time with the BK. He is 16 and is really becoming a great guy! Another gem in this family..gotta love em!

My dislocated thumb is getting MUCH better. As a matter of fact, I think I am almost back in the game. Today I was at the gym and I was actually able to do a lot of the arm exercises that were totally impossible last week. I am always amazed at the capacity of the human body to heal itself. Every time I hurt myself and a few weeks later it has bounced back, I am so thankful (after considerable whining and being a bit cranky that it takes so long of course!) that I'm healthy and able to recover like I do. We should all make sure we're doing everything we can to take care of ourselves, these bodies are precious!

Speaking of taking care of myself, starting on May 21, my UNK Bill challenged me to do the Body For Life workout (www.bodyforlife.com). It is REALLY intense but really awesome. 6 days a week of intense cardio and weight training. I have only missed a few days last week when my friends were here and I can tell a HUGE difference. I haven't weighed myself (i just don't ever weigh myself) but I can tell that I've really toned up. Kate is doing it too, I like her motivation! The challenge is supposed to be 12 weeks, so I'm going to go all the way through and see where I end up, but I might keep it up after that too. I'm on week 8 now.

Ok, going out to meet my friend Will for a little stroll around the city. Have a great weekend!

THE MOTHERLOOOOOOAD!!

If anyone is looking for Stephen Colbert's Americone Dream ice cream, I found the motherload! There is a bodega on the corner of 2nd avenue & E 4th st that had at least 15 cartons in the freezer. Not that anyone who reads this lives in New York, but if you're really desperate, that's a guarantee!

Happy 4th of July!!

Went to the Twins/Yanks game this afternoon with my cousin Billy. Very fun. Twins won!! Tonight, Macy's fireworks SPECTACULAR! Hope everyone enjoys the holiday.