Writing Tiger Big Apple

One Month!

Wow! Looking back now it is almost hard to believe that it has already been a month since we moved here. I haven’t posted in a while, not because things haven’t been interesting enough to write about, but I have a job! It’s not much of one yet but I am hoping that it will lead to a better opportunity soon. It was part time to start but I am already on a full time schedule and looking to start a management position in a few weeks. So, while working full time, riding the subway, and everything in between I just haven’t had time to write. 
Though we haven’t yet taken the time to do a “tourist” trip to Manhattan we did make it to central park over the weekend and took the dogs. It was nothing short of amazing. Not just because the park is vast and intricately woven with twisting paths and interesting spectacles along the way, but the sheer number of people who where there was stunning. It was like Mardi Gras in New Orleans, only everyone was fully clothed and not obviously intoxicated. Just people everywhere. Some having a picnic, some playing frisbee, some watching street performers, runners, bikers, and a ton of people just walking around like us. Unfortunatly it was a bit of a drive to get there, the dogs were okay in the car but were fantastic in the park. I don’t know if they were just as stunned as I was at all of the people around us, but they were on their best behavior even when young children came to pet them. We also had our first NYC hotdog! (And probably the last, but hey ya have to have at least one? Right?) 
We are still getting use to the city and gradually figuring out where everything is and how to get to them. The house is almost completely unpacked, we hit a road block when we realized we needed about three book cases, and only have one. Those will have to wait a while. We are still waiting on our bed to be shipped to us, should be here next week! I am going to be so happy to not be sleeping on the floor! Its been a month and it still kind of feels like we are camping. Once we get it though I know it’s just going to make the apartment really feel complete! Then we can hang pictures, get bookshelves, and maybe be unpacked! 
Besides the daily adventures of working in the city we have been cooking a lot of different recipes to try out some local favorites. We tried Pad Thai, it was great besides me over cooking the noodles. We also cooked some local mussels in white wine which were tender but not very flavorful. But my newest crave is Garlic Knots! I don’t remember ever having them before NYC but here they are everywhere. And we are fortunate to be close enough to some of the best in Queens. But buying them is a far cry from making them yourself. We did and they tasted wonderful! Next time I’m going to make them a bit larger and more rounded but still the flavors were exact. 

NYC: Week One!

We made it! We have actually been here for a little over a week now but just got our computers set up yesterday. So far it has been a whirl-wind week of unpacking and getting settled. Trying to find our way around seems to be the most challenging thing so far, at least by car. The subway is an absolute experience on it’s own and if you have never been on one I can’t say I really recommend it, however it is inexpensive and most of the time a convenient way to travel. 

My sister took me ice skating Tuesday, Mardi Gras! I’ve never been able to say that before; ice skating on Mardi Gras, LOL! It was in Bryant park and was quiet lovely despite how many people were there and the fact that 15 minutes in they pulled everyone off to make way for the Zamboni. After we went and did a little shopping for some winter boots for me and a few necessities, accompanied with a hot Starbucks and later a cold, well deserved beer at a nice hotel bar.  

So far the weather has been amazing, except for Friday. Which of course was the day that I went to meet Brent and his coworkers after work for a drink. I was totally soaked and chilled to the bone but that is just another part of the experience here as a New Yorker, I guess. 

I have had three job interviews so far and offers at each. My issue I guess is that I am just not quite sure what I want to do yet. Writing is what I would LOVE to be able to do full time but that doesn’t pay the bills (yet) and while I want to stay in the wine industry I want to do it on my own terms and be able to either work some place I will enjoy working or at least be able to work part time and write on the side. For now I’m just focusing on making our new apartment feel like home and getting my bearings in the city. Woo!

Hitting the road

We have actually been gone since yesterday but with everything to do and then driving mostly at night I haven’t had an opportunity to post about it. Brent arrived in Baton Rouge late Thursday and after realizing that the uhaul couldn’t be taken off my car after it was installed his Mom picked me up and we both got him from the airport. A quick pizza from Dominos for dinner and then back to spend the last night in our house. We woke around 5 am Friday morning and drove the uhaul to the storage unit, picked up our things from there, then spent the majority of the day squeezing our entire life into a 12x6 trailer. A lot was left behind…more than I would have hopped including our bed frame and my Cello :( that I really am disappointed by. But sacrifices had to be made and I priorotized the wine and wine coolers over it. We may be able to get it shipped to us or have his family put it in storage but for now it’s in our garage.
We took the first day in four hour shifts and actually made it to our midway point of knoxville, TN by 6:30 and found a dog friendly hotel to spend a few hours asleep in. It’s now 7 pm Saturday and we are back on the road. Gps tells us about another 12 hours before we arrive in our new state! I’m more sore than I can ever remember being in my life, the dogs are a mess so is my car, but over all very excited to be reunited with my husband and on the road to start our new life in NYC!