The Guys of NYC

Just had to share this gem of a morning experience:

I'm walking out of the subway, and a guy is climbing the stairs right next to me. He looks at me, and says, "ooh, it's cold out."

"Uh huh," I say as I keep walking up the stairs.

"Damn, you looking gorgeous," he says. "Mmm hmmm. And, look at that, you're not married."

I ignore him.

"Girl, can I walk with you?" he asks as we get outside.

"No."

"Bitch."

Well, ok, then!

As a Treat ...

When/if I finally land a job, I'd very much like to reward myself with a little yoga retreat. (Yeah, yeah, I know: Rachel lands a job, immediately goes on vacation. I'm talking about a few months after being hired.)


See, the bitch of life is that when I probably need yoga the most, I can't afford it. It's been July since I've been to a class; probably the longest stretch I've gone since I started practice, oh, six years ago.

Any recommendations on YouTube videos for at-home practice?

Julie and Cara: I think you should join me on this Mexican retreat. Yeah? Good.

Happy World Veggie Day

Hug a vegetarian today. It's our day!

Fall Showers bring Winter ... Jobs?

It stormed a fantastic storm last night, just like a classic spring thunderstorm in the Midwest. And being raised in the Midwest, I adore storms. So despite a mean bout of insomnia and a ragin', cajun head cold, I was ok with being up until 3 am listening to it. It's funny when such natural-type things happen in New York City. It's almost like you forget that the sky can open up and unleash something awesome when you're surrounding by so much that's unnatural.

I think I'm going to try to give myself a day off this week to explore the city like a tourist. I'll grab NY Mag's Cheap Guide and get hunting. After all, I haven't stepped foot in my favorite home store ever, ABC Carpet and Home, nor have I even seen the Statue of Liberty or Brooklyn Bridge yet. When I used to travel to Brooklyn on the R (or is it the N?) the above-ground line afforded me a few sneak peeks. But now the F train shuttles me under the East River and drops me off without the views.

This is a really pointless post; I'm really just killing time until I have to go into the city for a meeting. Question of the day: tights or no tights? I gotta wear them with these pretty booties that came in the mail for my birthday (thanks, Mom! xoxo)You'd hire me with these shoes, right?

Damn Yankees

I will preface this post by saying I'm not a Yankees fan. I never have been, and you can't be a fan of any other MLB team (AL or NL) and be a Yankees fan. In fact, I'm a Loyal Royal, even though it's the hardest job in major-league baseball.


That said, it was very cool to be at Yankees' stadium on the Thursday before the last game ever in the stadium. If you're a baseball fan of any sort (fair-weather or otherwise), it was hard to not be a little nostalgic.


This Yankee-hater sums it up pretty well.

They Say It's Your Birthday

Turning 25 has come and gone. Nope, don't feel any different than I did last week, so in case you're waiting for something grandiose to happen when you hit a quarter-century, I wouldn't hold your breath.

I will miss 24 a bit, though. After all, I moved to Portland a day (two days?) after I turned 24, then I moved to New York 11 months later. I think I'll remember 24 as one of the best years: I fortuitously re-connected with an old friend and made some fantastic new ones. And I discovered a part of the country that will always be special to me. It's amazing how much can happen in a year, huh?

So it's kind of daunting—and exciting—to have had such an incredible year, filled with so much, and to look to the year ahead and wonder what it holds. Chances are, though, I will not be moving to a brand-new city all alone. That I hope never happens again. If I go anywhere (Austin, Chicago, Seattle, Portland, San Fran, Paris?!) I'm dragging one of you with me!

Now, onto the festivities. I am pretty damn lucky because I've only been here a month, yet I had about 15 people show up to my birthday party. In the rain. All the way to Brooklyn. And on debate night!

Trader Joe's is my savior. I honestly get a little tingly in there. Only $33 on food (including fruit, cheese, crackers, chocolate, bread, and hummus), and $15 on five bottles of wine (three-buck Chuck is incredible) and I was set.

If only I had money, and this would have been caviar.

Those five bottles of Chuck turned into this dangerously yummy sangria:

It's easy: wine, brandy, OJ, sprite, sugar, and fruit. You're done!

Then Jes showed up with dessert. That girl. She's amazing!

Frosting is a hard job.

Sara approves.

I agree.

I swear more people than these three came to the party; apparently I just stopped taking pictures after the sangria set in. All in all, it was fun to have had a Brooklyn birthday. And seriously, who knows where I'll be at 26.

High Fructose Corn Syrup Good for You??

Michael Pollan is probably so appalled.

Apparently the Corn Refiners Association is claiming that high fructose corn syrup and other artificial sweeteners are not bad for you at all.

These ads are so ridiculous. Why is it so hard for people to eat real food?