under(and over)city.org

Wow. I just found an amazing New York photo site:UnderCity.org.

They actually climbed up onto some of the tallest bridge tops and took the shots from there! :::shiver::::

Dave in New York (The Blog!)

Dave has started his blog in a different location so we can both write about the same experiences in our individual way without making the reader completely crazy.

Here's the link to Dave's blog: DAVE IN NEW YORK

Please add us to your bookmarks!

Another job offer

came to me last night while driving to the grocery store- I was really surprised by it! I had forwarded my resume to someone in NY through a friend about 2 weeks ago, and had almost forgotten about it.

The manager calling asked when I'd be moving, then quickly added, "The sooner you can start, the better." I called him back this morning and left him a message asking if he'd be available to meet during the week of the 6th, after Labor Day. I decided if he needed me so quickly, I'd better get on it- so we're going to leave a week earlier. I wish we could go next week, but then there's that pesky Political Convention taking up space...

I also asked him if I could send him the resume of "the person I'm moving to New York with". That one thing that would speed up the process of us moving there would be if Dave found employment during the visit as well. [Don't worry- It came across much better than that...it wasn't as manipulative as it sounds!]

I also called the Publisher again today (BTW-they never called to tell me they received my samples and thank me!!!). I asked the Human Resources contact that I was thinking of coming to town a week earlier, and was hoping to set up a meeting then. She's going to call me back. I wonder if they're even interested anymore?

I've been talking a lot with friends that work at the studio, and people I work with here at Harcourt who know a little about the studio. Everyone seems to like it there. I hear they're always busy, very little down time. That's very good. But no one knows what to ask for! That's my last question.

I'm still weighing the Publisher pay vs the possible studio pay. Plus, the Publisher will give me paid holidays, insurance and overtime. I'm not sure the studio will give me any of that, plus they'll probably pay less....but the studio is a more relaxed place to work. Maybe Dave could take the studio job, and I could take the Publisher.... Eugh.

Lots and lots of info is pouring in

from almost everyone I know! The date is coming up so fast, and everyone is helping so much-- even before I can get the chance to ask! To all of you: Thank you!!! Dave and I appreciate it so much!

Right now we're getting info from people who actually live in NY through friends- like opinions on different areas and available apartments they might have seen. We're also searching for apartment hunter-type places to get as much info on areas to live as possible. We're only going to have four days hunt and gather, so we had better go in armed with info!

We're heading back for a second visit

from September 12th-15th. I wish we could go sooner, but the Political Convention is going on the first week of September, and Labor Day is in the 2nd week. Dave/we are hoping that we can look for apartments on Sunday, go to interviews on Monday and Tuesday, and get an answer on things before we leave. Then we call an apartment and tell them we want it. We'd come home and start packing to make the move by the end of October. Easy as pie, right? God. Is that even possible???

I spoke to a another FL-to-NY friend on Sunday who has been living there for about 2-3 years now. She had relocated to take work as a newscaster/correspondent for Fox News, and is now an editor for In Touch magazine. I think she also still does work for the Jay Leno Show as a correspondent from time to time, so her situation was a little different, but her boyfriend works for a studio, so she gave me an inside scoop on where to try for employment.

She said the Publisher I had interviewed with seemed to pay well; a few people from the studio left to work for this place. I guess I'm on the right track! It's a lot more professional/corporate/stuffy than working for a studio, but I'm also looking for a comfort zone to start. I know my job, and I'd feel more comfortable doing just that as a first job there, rather than starting at a magazine or comp studio working on the flip side.

I sent the samples out last night: I'm both proud and unsure of them. They don't have all the flashy printouts of pages and huge illustrations you'd think you should supply. It wasn't a portfolio. That's not what I do, and I wasn't going to give that impression. They really wanted to see impressive stuff, but unfortunately this means they're asking for color copies of current book that will give away Harcourt secrets, not impressive as in "Wow- great design on this". Instead, I sent copies from older books with descriptions of what I did on each. A "sub-resume" if you will. I hope they're satisfied. I called the designer I was interviewed by last and he sounded a bit perkier on the phone. I'm really hoping they aren't trying to get secrets over hiring me. He's going to get the package this morning.

Yesterday was my 32nd birthday,

and Dave and I went to our first Bikram Yoga session! Every Birthday I try to experience something totally out of the ordinary.

Neither one of us had ever even done yoga before. It was a 90-minute yoga class in a room set at 100 degrees, and it was awesome. Dave and I did great, only stopping 1-2 times to rest, and when we left, we felt lighter, more limber, and cleaner. We're going back again on Saturday; we're shooting for twice a week.

Of course, we were starving by the time we got out (you're not supposed to eat 2-3 hours before the class), so where did we go? The Melting Pot, of course! We spent all that time sweating toxins out, but then turned around and shoved them back in! Ha! ...We did the broth instead of the oil, if that counts?!

I also celebrate a "Birthweek" every year (Dave had his first Birthweek ever last year). That's where you get to celebrate an entire week starting with your actual Birthday. Birthdays can be so pressured on what to do all in one day, where to go, what to buy for one another....so we relax for a week, eating out here and there, buying things as we go along, basically making the time to enjoy ourselves (where people should really make that time for themselves all the time). It really makes your birthday last, so you can truly enjoy yourself (and it helps you forget you're a year older!).

Happy Birthday to mEEE!

We're already planning on revisiting

New York in a few weeks so we can finish looking at apartments and areas, go to the remaining interviews, and make our final decisions. We're thinking about revisiting in early September (AFTER the political convention gets over with!).

I've also been working hard on this site- It's weird, though; normally I can spend from 6-10 hours sitting at the computer illustrating, writing and such, but I have so much going on right now- so much to consider, to think about, to plan...I feel so scatter-brained. 

This weekend we cleaned out our big walk-in closet area that was becoming overwhelmed with junk. Our hallway is now lined with items to give away: books, old clothes, old candles, trinkets, VHS tapes, etc. Our closet is now lined with boxed books, winter jackets and CDs. Storage is next. We're cleaning stuff out, and packing up things we want to keep so it's ready to go when we decide. And if we don't go, it's neatly organized and labeled, just the way I love it. (I know, you can say it. I don't care.)

BTW, here are the areas we have decided to look in, based on what we saw, tips from some actual New Yorkers we spoke to, as well as our internet and book research:
• Astoria, Queens
• The Heights, Brooklyn
• Greenwich Village, NY

Lifestyle changes

are so important; I think the best way to make a lifestyle change and stick with it is to start it the minute you relocate, training yourself that it's part of the new environment.

I want to take Bikram Yoga classes once a week (those are the classes where you do yoga in a room that's set at 100 degrees). I actually caught site of an Orlando Bikram Yoga place on our way back home from the airport! I think I'm going to try and take my Birthday off with Dave and take a class. We both deserve it! And I don't want a big deal for my birthday this year at all. I just want to focus on introducing myself to new challenges.

Another change I want to make for myself- I've missed my Krav Maga classes so much since I had to stop (money problems long ago). Here's a cheesy news clip I found that sort of shows what Krav Maga is (I also found another one, but I first want to note that I was taking Krav Maga LONG before this awful Jennifer Lopez movie!!!). Dave has always wanted to take a Marital Arts class like that anyway, so why not do it together in NY? (I joked to Dave about sparring in Central Park on Sunday afternoons. That would be so cool! We'd be BAD AZZ! HA!)

One more thing...I'm really going to work on more music with Dave. I'll keep up guitar, learn bass, and do a lot more singing. I also have TONS of lyrics with no music and TONS AND TONS of melody ideas recorded with no lyrics. I only have one whole song written, and while the music is complete, I have yet to finish up the lyrics.

My only problem is that I have a HUGE phobia of singing in front of people, even Dave! I was really bothered by it a few years back, so I started taking vocal lessons on and off from Judy Leonard, a really big vocal coach located here in Orlando. She is EXCELLENT. I'm getting better...I couldn't even hum a tune in front of anyone two years ago. Singing can be such a window into a person's soul (unless they have an empty soul, in which then it's just all fake, forced, prepackaged crap), and I am often very protective and closed. Sometimes I have a problem speaking casually with 1-4 people face-to-face; I often switch the conversation quickly away from myself onto someone else. I even sometimes get terrible anxieties before meeting up with people...even with friends for fun (of course, lots of beer always "helps me be me"). Some months, I'm totally fine. I'm a weirdo. Speaking on stage or in front of a large group, I'm pretty much ok. In the past, I've done some acting, and was even a runway model for 5 years, but I've never SANG on stage before. Maybe that's all I need. Maybe in NY when no one is around that I know? Maybe I'll take vocal lessons once I get settled.

Our first visit to New York

was awesome. We left on Saturday, July 31st (9am) through Tuesday, August 3rd (1pm).

The Summary: We had a great time, got tons of info, are revisiting once more to finalize everything, and then decide on when to make the move.

The Trip (Note: This is a long blog!):
What a city! Our hotel (Hotel Pennsylvania- warning: bad flash site) was across from Madison Square Garden/Penn Station. My big interview was above it all in the Two Penn Building.

On the first day, we didn't even plan. We just started walking. We actually walked from our hotel through Times Square, then all the way to Central Park, winding through the streets, just looking! We saw Rockefeller Center, Trump Tower, and lots of beautiful churches and architecture. The skies were beautiful, but it was pretty hot- we finally stopped at the Oak Bar across from Central Park, where we paid $24 for two beers and a soda (the bar was connected to the famous Plaza Hotel). Then after spending 3-4 hours of walking, we took a subway back to our hotel....it took a whole five minutes.

That night, we went for a few drinks at "Joe O's", an Irish bar and restaurant next to our hotel. We made friends with the bartender, Darren. He was born in Dublin, but moved to America when we was in his early 20's. He absolutely loves New York! He told us about the areas he had lived in New York over the last 10 years, and gave us lots of info to research. He also told us about Bleeker Street (see Dave's blog). We met up with Darren again the next night.

Man, there are just TONS AND TONS AND TONS of little Mom 'n Pop shops to eat for cheap, little arts stores and specialty shops. We were out walking and found this little print shop hidden away on a side street; they had wall-to-wall pulp fiction comics book postcards, just like the ones we have lined up in our bathroom! Awesome! They were 12 for $7 (can't beat that!). We also found an amazing Tibetan restaurant in the Village called Shangrila. From the street, it looks like an ordinary food stop, but inside, it's another world. After a long day of walking, it was more than perfect. Maybe ten tables, one waitress, everyone speaking at a very low level. Meditation music massaging your brain...and noodle bowls with a beer. Ahhh.

We visited New Jersey the next day and saw a three apartments. One was super expensive- which we knew they would be (Liberty Towers). One was a cool apartment; a little less pricey and it was in a super-primpy area (Towers of Newport). Almost too nice, but it's a possibility.

The third was a too-perfect corporate apartment complex. Fluffy carpeting and white walls, just like the ones I used to rent here in Florida. Yuck. Maybe we're being too picky...but not really. I mean, we want a good price and some room to turn around, but we don't want to feel like we're back in Florida, either. At least, not for our first New York apartment. Next time we'll look at apartments in the city. That should give us a good gage.

We took the ferry over to the Financial District, where we went and saw "Ground Zero". You would have no idea that it was more than a typical construction site if it weren't for the surrounding buildings with massive damage around the top part of them....oh yeah, and the group of tables set up along the main fence, trying to sell tourists World Trade Center memorabilia. Dave and I refused to buy any New York trinkets with the Twin Towers on it. We're not from New York. They are no longer there. It didn't feel right.

We also went to the Empire State Building that night- it was very commercialized, very unorganized and took FOREVER to get to the top, but it was worth it! 86 floors up! Woohoo!

The next morning, we learned that there were terrorist threats on two of the buildings in the financial district. You wouldn’t even know it walking through the streets. I guess you can't stop living every time you hear a threat. Everyone was out, walking around, talking, laughing, shopping, going about their business. I even forgot all about it until I saw my first machine gun- there were two soldiers in fatigues in Penn Station. Just as a precaution, but was that weird!

I went to my first interview that morning. It was for a competing Publisher, so it was kind of odd. What a beautiful office, though (and a great view to match)! They said they definitely wanted me and that they were going to discuss where I would fit (the positions are set up totally different there). Within 2 hours, sure enough, they called me and asked if I could come back in to meet with their senior designers. It went all right...I was surprised how dry the interview was. Which brings me to the one thing that I found odd...the design department was very quiet. No goofy, creative, fun stuff up on anyone's cubicle walls, either. No laughing or talking...it seemed...not right. They asked me to send them samples, so I should know more in the next few weeks. I'm not sure of how I feel exactly. I'm still going to try other places in the meantime.

That night, we met up with our old Orlando friend, Doug. He had moved there in March, and we were so excited to see each other! We couldn't wait to hear how he liked everything. We met up with him on Bleeker Street at "Kenny's Castaway". He's lost a ton of weight!!! He looks great! I guess it's all that walking around (another incentive to moving there!). We lounged around at "Madam XX's", then went to CBGBs and then The Living Room (where Nora Jones got her start). WOW. The music going on in there was just...surreal. I will be visiting The Living Room quite often. I’d love to play there myself!

On the last morning, I had set up a second interview with a different company, but it ended up getting cancelled because of a deadline emergency, but asked me to call them when I revisit. I'm actually glad was cancelled though, since we took a bus to the airport- we wouldn't have made it on time if I had to squeeze an interview in, too!

Overall, it felt normal to walk through the streets. Not overwhelming at all! People weren't shoving you out of he way, or snubbing you on the subway. The New York attitude has a bad rap- like they're loud and pushy. They are very "no nonsense. In fact, I almost prefer it. No one is beating around the bush, but they're not crass, either. Everyone we asked questions to had a straight but friendly answer. It's like everyone there is a giant family, all in the same boat. We met so many cool people on that trip it was awesome! Even sitting in the subway, a couple asked us to name a comedy we had seen recently, because they wanted to rent a movie and couldn't decide. We told them "Office Space", and they were ecstatic. We ran into a lot of people like that. It's kind of like working for one huge company. It's like you all belong to the same workplace, you pass in the halls and make small talk like you've seen each other walking around before, and maybe you'd even share a tidbit or two about new places you discovered.