A Beautiful Winter in NYC

"Blizzard of 2006" begins

continues..

Lots of snow. 24.5" in NYC.

The sun came out and melted some of the massive snow.

Casualty of the blizzard or possibly a NYU student.

Then snow became ugly.

Did you know they pile snow into a few streets?

Amazing Wednesday. Enjoying Gray's Papaya hotdogs in the sun.

Lena's friends

Today it was hanging out with friends of Lena's.
Dennis I met through Lena. They went to Columbia at the same time. Now he's subleasing her apartment which happens to be in the building next to mine. We get along well. I show him my New York and he introduces me to the musical New York. Today I took him to the famous Lombardi's Pizzeria in Soho. Did you know it was the first pizzeria in America? And it's good pizza. We got anchovies and meatballs. Yummy.




Later we met up with Haesun and Grace, my friends in NY but who are now also friends of Lena's. Grace lived in Korea for four years while Haesun is currently living there. Lena's been living in Korea on and off for a while. That's where we met and became friends. That's where these girls became friends with her as well.

So the four friends of Lena got together at Jacque Torres' Chocolate Haven in Tribeca. I thought it was the perfect place since Haesun needed to get Torres' hot coco mix for EJ. Dennis and I had some while waiting for the girls and it was intense. You'll love it EJ.

A little Mozart

Went to Lincoln Center to hear a little Mozart. I went with two Katherine's. I knew Katherine Jo (Korean girl) from church, Redeemer. Although we met a few weeks ago and hung out three times, we became friends quickly. We are very similar so we clicked right away. So when she told me how she wanted to go to this Mozart concert and invited me well I had to accept. Besides I like doing something different once in a while.

I met the other Katherine, Katherine Aceti, that night. She knows Katherine Jo from Columbia University. Both are attending Teacher College.

The evening was fun. Not only was the music good but also cause we were single gals hanging out.
Well it turned out that it was Katherine Jo's birthday. She was turning 28. Wow that's young. Although I feel totally comfortable around them, I am reminded that I'm older. Katherine Aceti commented how much younger I looked than I am. Yes I've hear that all the time but doesn't change that fact that I am not 28 but thanks.

This is the third live performance I've attended. The first two were compliments of Dennis and his connections. This one I actually paid ticket prices. Funny thing is that it doesn't matter how I get tickets cause I seem to have a nack for getting second to the last or last row. I've decided that when I get that good paying job I'm going to get seats on the main floor.

Seeing MoMA with Haesun

Met up with Haesun again on Thursday. We went to MoMA and ate lunch at one of their cafes. It was cool. It was the cheaper cafes. You order and they give you a number. You find a seat and put the number up. They bring the food to you. It's good food. Haesun was enjoying her new camera. It's a slick Canon. It's very compact. Hopefully we will see how good it takes pictures when she puts her images on her blog.

Winter Nite

Musicians

Sometimes I wish I was a musician.
Yesterday was one of those days.
I went with Dennis to get his bass checked out. It's kinda like a tune-up. The place was this small shop in Chinatown. I've walked by it hundreds of time but never knew it was there. Inside the place smelled like fine wood powder like so many woodshops. All around me were basses and cellos of all kinds. I even saw all silver bass. It was crazy.

The guy at the shop put Dennis' baby on a table and then they got down to business. They started talking in a language of their own. They understood each other with a simple nod or smile. Being there even for a little bit, I could tell that this is a special place where only "real" bass players come to give care to their precious babies.






Like other artists it's a club for members only. Visitors like me could only have access if a member brings them along.
Just shows me that there is so much of New York that is hidden and that's why I love having diverse friends.

New Phone. New Number

So when I left my company last week I gave up my cell phone and my lovely number.
I thought about getting it back but that involved staying around the office for a few hours on the phone with Cingular and my boss. Is my number that great that I would endure more pain than I have to? Then I thought about the advantages of leaving my number. I could go to a different provider, better plan and of course, a new phone. So I left.

I like my new number. It's not as cool as the old one but it's still quite nice.
I love my phone.
It has a camera but also a radio. NICE.
Call me. Call me often.

It is done.

I am officially finish with B+S (aka Olive) as of today. I went to get my stuff and remove any items that may tie me to them. It's been a difficult time working there but unbelievably painful/hurtful/pissed off these last few days. My bosses MsA and MrB were complete ass----s.

Evidence #1 - They didn't take me out for lunch.
Four and a half years of service and I got 10 cupcakes that spelled "Cindy Merci" from her favorite cupcake place Cakes N' Shapes even though I've mentioned several times how I preferred Cupcake Cafe's. It was also done last minute cause they didn't tell me about it until 15 minutes before I was to leave. Oh they did offer to buy me lunch from our "favorite" lunch takeout place Pret-A-Manger. Hmm wondered if they were going to use the free lunch they get with their frequent buyer's card.

Evidence #2 - My parting gift.
Yes I should be happy that I got something. Yes it's a nice gift but first thing, it's only from MsA and not from both of them. It's clear MrB doesn't like me since I don't like doing the stupid things he would ask me like taking his son to his doctor's appointment on my day off. Secondly I think the gift is more about her than me. As everyone knows I'm going back to photography so wouldn't more appropriate to get me something to encourage that? A nice photo book would be great. A certificate from B&H even better. No MsA got me a Noguchi Akari Lamp. It's her favorite designer and she told me it's her favorite lamp of his. Great. Everytime I see it I'll remember how it's her favorite. This is as good as her Christmas gift, a small silver square tray from Moss (a high-end design store).

Evidence #3 - Taking my stuff home when it's convenient for me.
So I made arrangement to take my personal stuff out of the office over the weekend when I had help including a car. I already asked MsA who okayed the memo to weekend security. Then Fri morning she calls me to tell me she would "prefer" that I remove my stuff during office hours. I tell her it's very inconvenient to which she responded by repeating her preference. Yeah. Thanks a lot. Now I have to pay for a cab to take my stuff. Had I'd known earlier I could have removed slowly throughout the previous weeks. Huge slap on the face. Suddenly they can't trust me? All those years I had complete access even to their home when they were away in Europe. But now that I'm no longer an employee, sorry. Totally lame.

Evidence #4 - just in case I decide to come back?
Today I went with Haesun to get my stuff out during her preferred hours. I arrive and noticed that they are changing locks to the office. I guess returning my keys isn't insurance enough. It's true I could have made copies and plan to come back and do damage. Never mind that they already took my name off the security list.

Good riddance. Hate to work in an environment where they treat you like family while employed but criminals once you're not longer being employed.

Free at last. Free at last. Thank God almighty I'm free at last.

A little sad but okay

The boy I like doesn't like me back.

I wasn't surprised cause the situtation is complicated and cause I know how he is.
But it is sad.
It's clear that he doesn't feel the same way.
I should be grateful cause he has saved me time, money (cause I was going to visit him) and heartache (less cause it's early).
I've always professed that no one should be with someone that doesn't return the love one offers. I am no exception to that rule.

He's a good person.
He's a great friend.
He's just not the love of my life.
And that is okay.

Haesun's Back

Haesun is back visiting her family and friends. Amazingly enough it's been a year since she left us for Korea. Funny thing is that it feels as if she never left. I guess not much has changed since she left. Her immediate friends are still single and her coupled friends are still coupled.

Lucky for us her visit was a great excuse together as a group. We haven't done that much with everyone so busy with career and life. Eumi and Ben were kind enough to host the dinner at their lovely home in Woodside. They've been renovating their place for a while and it's almost finished. And as you can expect from them it's fabulous. Ben did an incredible job designing and building everything from the kitchen cabinets to the dinner table. Don't even get me started on the bathroom. Eumi's good taste is also evident from their wall color to furniture. Very nice.

Heidi did the majority of the cooking even though it was potluck. She made this yummy chicken dish that was marinated in buttermilk and spices, coated with Japanese bangko bread crumbs and baked. She also made this tasty mashed potatoes with carrots and peas. Of course in true Heidi fashion she made enough for all 12 of us plus 48 more. Lots of leftovers. Lucky Ben.

Nina made and brought three types of tamales: vegetable, chicken and goat cheese. Incredible.

Kathy brought a delicious pear tart.
Haesun brought mini mousse cakes and berry tart.
Hyun & Eugene brought wine as I did.
Ben's friend Anthony brought beer.

Amazingly enough we all fit around the dining table. It felt like Thanksgiving. We even had one casualty from the food. Haesun fell asleep soon after and was not available for the rest of the evening. The night was in her honor and her highness was sleeping right through it. We know it was the jetlag cause it couldn't have been the company.

Jasmine

Although it was Haesun's night, Jasmine (Nina & Luke's daughter) stole the spotlight.
Isn't she precious? Had to stop taking pictures and limit myself to posting these.

A Pathetic Farewell

After four and a half years this is the thanks and goodbye I received.
At least they spelled my name right.