My First...

So I'm done with my first week of my new life. I consider this the first "official" work week because I'm no longer on the DOE payroll and I'm actually following through on my plan to work at Starbucks (with the multitude of other students/business people/unemployed starving artists...) So here are my Week 1 highlights:

-Spent two FULL days at Starbucks, with people fighting over seats and trying to make phone calls that weren't overly obnoxious to people sitting nearby.

-Went to a BBQ with Cynthia and Shaant to celebrate Labor day. I love hanging with them and, until getting wasted off of flip cup (tolerance is way down from my GCA days), I had a great time!!

-Went to CT for my Aunt Catherine's 84th birthday! That lady has listened to me talk, complain, be excited/depressed/etc and loved me since I was born -- plus, she's a little magical which is always fun ;) Anyways, we had dinner as a family of about 15ppl and it was so great!

-Volunteering - I helped "transport" seniors at a long-term care facility for elderly people. Basically, I wheeled them from their rooms, down the elevator and to the auditorium for Rash Hashanah service. The first day, I thought it smelled and didn't really know what to do with myself - by the second day I was leading other volunteers around and partnered up with this really adorable, nice guy. Thank you college eye-candy!

-Started training for Kaplan SAT prep. Also volunteering, but they're training me for free so I think it's an even trade-off. Anyways, I'll be paired up with a small HS group of student for the school year - can't wait to meet them!

-Met with this great dad about tutoring his daughter. I love hearing parents talk about their kids - and this guy really cares about his! Anyways, I got home from a great talk with him, emailed him a thank you note and 5min later he emailed back saying his daughter would call me and set something up this week!! Fingers crossed that she likes me too!! ::fingers crossed::

-Hung out with A and R, who I haven't seen since my LPA days!! Speaking of firsts, A is the first boy I ever kissed, back when I was a girl (around 12 I think). I think we talked once after and it went like this: So does this mean we're going out -- No, I don't think so -- Ok. I can't remember a conversation after that, but how cute and drama-free! Anyways, it was good to see the boy who's become only a name to me...super nice guy as an adult btw! R was also so fun to hang out with, and has such a nice girlfriend. I hope we can hang out in the future, as they live in the city -- new friends, yay!

Whew, I didn't even realize how much I did this week until now!! Well, needless to say I spent about 6 hours out of my apt each day which was key. I even went running a few times...which I'm off to do again now with my friend V...gotta keep moving...

Starbucks

Only my second day at this and I have to say having a Starbucks "office" is the funniest thing ever. I got a late start yesterday by getting here at 9am and could barely find a seat - when I did, I was at the big table with a lady coughing/talking loudly on her phone and a guy sucking his teeth. NOT to make that same mistake, today it's 7:30am and I've been here for a half hour - that's right sucking-teeth guy, suck it.

On this rainy day, the guy to my right is talking on the phone, John Mayer is blasting, a lady just rushed in and claimed a seat before ordering coffee and men/women are filing in with briefcases and backpacks ready for all the free wifi they can handle. I am, of course, set up with my laptop, phone and ready to stop procrastinating (after this post of course)!!

And for those of you wondering if I got up at 5:30am yesterday to run the answer is a resounding NO...duh. But, after waking up at 8:30am, rushing over here and cursing to myself for being late (it really is like going to work) I actually did get in a full 6 hours of work, went home to eat AND went for a 20min run. All and all not bad progress :)

Good luck to all those starting their first day of teaching in NYC! I miss all my fabulous past co-workers so much! I'm sure I'll see you all when I start subbing as they can't all be Starbucks days...

ps - population just tripled over here since writing this post - better come now to get the last table - and bring a heavy purse to knock the old ladies and college kids out of the way!!

pps - Happy 84th Birthday Aunt Catherine - so much love!!

jobs, jobs, jobs...

So what am I doing with my life?? Seems to be the question of the summer... Well, I've applied to countless craigslist ads for anything in the restaurant/tutoring fields, gone on a few interviews - not so much is happening from that. Also, just signed up for volunteer activities where I'll be reading to kids from 7:30 to 8:30am and doing a Kaplan SAT test prep for high schoolers. I figure I may as well pimp up my resume while I have some time on my hands. Now how to actually make money...hmmmm....

The strangest thing is that I'm not really that anxious about it. I'm far more worried about myself - will I procrastinate? sleep in? give up? The inner battle is scarier than not getting paid at the moment....at the moment... That's why my commitment to myself is this - I will spend AT LEAST 8 hours a day OUT of my apartment starting tomorrow (since that's when I would have to report back if I were teaching, so why not). I just think that I need to keep moving, moving, moving until something finally works out!

So, here's how my life is going to look like (until Lango becomes a huge success and I'm on my yacht sailing the world):

-Morning Run in Cental Park @ 5:30am
-Starbucks to work on the computer for lango bidness @ 6:30 - 10:30am
-Phone calls in Riverside Park @ 10:30 - 12pm
-Home for lunch @ 12 - 2pm
-Starbucks to finish up any business and/or search for jobs @ 2 - 5pm
-Anything I want/tutuoring/bartending practice.

So that's more than 6 hours, so I have a little wiggle room ;) Cross your fingers for me!! Either way, the last time I felt like I was in such a "right" place in my life was my first year of teaching. I'll just keep following that and let's see where this road leads...

Hope everyone had a great labor day weekend - such gorgeous weather!!!!