June 21st

The worst thing to happen to me today. This also includes yesterday.

I'm sick! My throat hurts and sometimes my spine or ear aches too. Can I go to work? Not like this!

The worst thing to happen Abroad:

In Afghanistan, there has ben a ban on the growth of poppies. This has left (BBC features one man) financial options tight, and has forced the selling of one's daughter to pay off debts. Selling my 6 year old daughter to a creditor's son could be worse than my throat. But I am still really uncomfortable.

June 16th, 2006

The worst thing to happen to me today:

Lindsey and I went out for breakfast. We went to a Mexican Restaurant in her neighborhood. She told me she saw that they put leftover salsa back in the bucket from which our salsa would be served. She said this was common.

The worst thing to happen Abroad:

Somalis may have it worse, as millions are displaced from their homes...not to mention: fighting between rival militias, successive droughts, sharply rising food prices and a collapse of the Somali currency. (BBC)

TO HAPPEN TO ME:
I sent out a text, and did not receive an answer. I've been waiting most of the day for it.


TO HAPPEN ABROAD:

While sitting in the loveliest park in Jersey City, I watched as a homeless man bathed his face in the exact same fountain water as the birds. Later, an already summer-drenched woman followed suit.

MY NEW BLOG

This is the first edition of my attempt at a daily blog called "The worst thing that has happened to me today"

It started on a particularly easy day...where I thought "The worst part of this day has been that I had to plug something in." An idea was born.

So, today The 11th of June.

The worst thing to happen to me so far, was at Starbucks, of course. I almost always get the corner two person table in the window. Today, it was taken. I had to sit in the two person table to the left of it. Sandwiched between two people, feeling exposed with no wall to carry the weight of the room. It was simply awful.

The worst thing to happen abroad?
The BBC reports that "more than 4,000 children in China have been given the name Aoyun, meaning Olympic Games, in the past 15 years." That is slightly more tragic. What will become of these young Aoyuns? Will I ever meet one? Probably not, as they are held captive in their parents love of China...they won't be studying abroad.

CSS

Yea, I've got nothing.

nothing going on but drinking and playing around.

i am going to look for some pictures though...

pictures from my OLD walk to work...ooold pics

Snow

Oh, how do I love snow.

I feel like my luck is beginning to turn around. First, I went to a JOB today...which is fairly major. THEN, I wore my heavy duty boots to work, because I thought it would be cold and it ended up SNOWING while I was in work. It was amazing...it snowed all over Jersey's ugly. only pretty Jersey was left.

However, I feel a bit of sicky coming on. A lot of OJ on my to do list tonight.

Moving uptown to Harlem

Tonight, was one of the single most pleasurable experiences of my lifetime.

Went to "Showman's" a jazz club at 125th street off the B train i believe. Unbelievable. The man of the hour, Joey Morant, was hilarious and an amzing trumpet player and singer. He kept trying to get me to dance, but I was having no part of it. I was wearing a sweater...who dances in a sweater?

He played some good ole tunes, and it was no big deal. That's what I like about this place....play some great music...no big deal. What I don't like...is that we each got 3 drinks (i got two whiskey ginger ales and a beer) and it was $55 bucks. That's a tab. That's a NYC tab.

The night before I went to Rodi Bodi, an Indian food restaurant in Queens. Unchartered waters. it was the most delicious food I have ever tasted. Believe it.

Gordon Smith, gotta quit yo' job and move on up.

Love.

I look like a photographer

Now this is where I eat fruit, and where I walk to the subway....it's all in good fun, don't mind the mess.






When I first arrived in Jersey City, I neared my street seeing beautiful housing...



Then I arrived at my place, a simpler solution

No pictures

i cannot believe I haven't taken any pictures. I will have to do that soon.

I got the Sick. The Sick that is floating around everyday and every nite looking for victims on the subway. I was frolicking around the city without a care of purell or hand washing. I thought I would be doing myself a favor in the long run. No, I wasn't. Luckily, it is just a wee cold and I just feel crumby, not like I am dying.

I went to the "art opening" of my favorite blogger last night, The Sartorialist. He takes pictures of people that "look good" on the street and makes a post about them. His pictures were printed out and displayed, but you couldn't see them through the 1,000 people that showed up. Not that many, but the line was out the door and half the block down to get in. I was there early, so it was cramped, but I didn't have to wait. Was it worth it? Mostly.

I should be working on my resume, so as much fun as sitting in bed and writing about my nite has been, it's time to go.

Morning in the East

I went outside this morning, and took a solid look around where I live. It doesn't look like much...there is trash all around our door and sidewalk, but it was nice anyway. It looked a little scummy in the bright sunlight. Oh yea, it's a beautiful day.

I woke up in my lovely dungeon...it is lovely...i slept like a log....a log covered in warm moss.

So far, I have left the house for some coffee...and I feel like everywhere I go I am sticking out as someone who hasn't got a clue. It's because I don't. I am scared to go to the "big city" alone, but it is such a lovely day I can't really afford not to. I don't like to wonder without a purpose. i like to know where I am going and walk with some sort of confidence, that I know what will be around the corner. This is not possible of course...

I am going to get off the computer and do something else.

New Jersey

Here I sit at my dresser that I have turned into a temporary desk. My knees scrunched up against my t-shirt drawer, I can't tell if it feels better to stand or to sit down. My feet hurt to say the least. My new, awesome room mate said that he had a past of telling people it was "just up the road" when it was really 2 miles. He did tell me it was quite a walk to the Super Target (score), but I didn't think it would have much of an effect. Let's just say this ole' gal is out of shape.

I am moved in pretty much completely. If there is any greater feeling than moving into a new city, then into a new room in less than 2 hours...I don't know about it. My gift to you readers is this: Selling your shit and moving in 2 suitcases rules. I don't have a lack of room right now, I have just enough. And it is just one room. It rules. However, moving in with people that alread have furniture for you is pretty awesome too.

My plan, you may ask yourself? I don't have one, or rather, I am making it as I type. Maybe buy some stuff, maybe find a job, maybe look around. don't know.

If i figure out how to get pictures up, I will.

The Move

It is the day before I move to NYC. I am celebrating with a cup of Dunkin' Donuts coffee, and thus I have come to realize that I don't know how to properly 'celebrate.' Do I know what 'to celebrate' means? Is having a cup of coffee...a celebration? I have packed my large suitcases with things I need (long johns) and things I don't need (over sized paperclips). This move has been really easy and really hard. I went the slow, do a little each day route, and all of a sudden I had no furniture and no car. Packing my bags however, has ruined any hopes of living a baggage free life in '08. I can't seem to shake my addiction to office supplies and glass antiques. Not to mention, 'quitting sugar for good' has only compounded my packing stress.

I have received a bludgeoning from the 'Omen's office,' if there is such a place. My car started to sputter the moment I needed to sell it, my teeth show up riddled with cavities (11), I have a black bruise on my back the size of an English muffin and my foot (the one I need for walking) has started to pain me. The cavities alone would drive a man to stay home from NYC, but not me...I am a survivor.

When I arrive in NYC, I don't expect to cry myself to sleep...I will post on what actually happens.