NY, NY

“There have been only two perfect men in history. One died on the cross 2000 years ago and the other surrendered at Appomattox Court House in 1865.”

Let me tell you something. I wish that Mr. Robert E. Lee would have had some weapons of mass destruction and gone ahead and did away with anything north of the mason-dixon line.

Ok, that’s harsh. But sometimes, I sure wish that were true.

Welp, I arrived at LaGuardia airport last Saturday. With four pieces of luggage (don’t be mad), I trekked all the way to the taxi stand where a foreign man named Osama(welcome to New York) assured me it would be a safe ride all the way to my place of residence. Great.

After 25 terrifying minutes in the taxi with a wild-man driver, I made it to the Fashion Institute of Technology dorms safe and sound. I spent the next 2 hours in line behind my wonderful new friends from “Broukln” and “The Bronnnx”. We discussed life, world hunger and “omg I lost my shooooe at the baaaaar laaast niiiight”. KMN.

Finally. I was checked in. I found some familiar faces and we set off to discover what big city life had to offer.

We saw Sex and the City (in the City…ha) and pretended to know exactly where we were going and what we were doing at all times.

I started my first real job evvvvvvver. 40+ hours a week. Monthly Salary. Full benefits. The real world is scary. Thank the Good Lord I have one more year to soak up the wonderfulness of Carolina SLASH not be responsible =)

The Lord is really looking out for my well-being. On the corner of my street, there is a sports bar/restaurant called Brother Jimmys. Seriously, y’all. It’s a gift from God. The slogan for the restaurant is “Put Some South in Yo’ Mouth”. AMAAAAAZING. Hush puppies. BBQ. Sweet Tea. And 33 days from now, I will be ordering one of there wonderful beverages including: “Myrtle Beach Margarita”, “Southern Belle”, or the “Charlotte Tea Party”. AND THEY ARE SERVED IN MASON JARS. Life is good in the South and life is good in the South when in the North.

I’ve been laughed at so many times since I’ve been here. People 1. tell me I talk to slow and need for me to repeat my sentences a few times or 2. just don’t understand. I don’t mind, but I think its just because I already my flight back home on August 1st. Nothing can be too annoying for only two months..

Saturday we went to Governor’s Island, which is down by the Statue of Liberty. We had to take a ferry over there and the island is like an oasis from city life. It sits right off the tip of Manhattan, so the views are unbelievable, but it is quiet and serene. It looks a lot like Charleston once on the island. Tall, billowing trees, large stretches of grass, and old historic homes with grand porches. The day we went over, there was a “Great Gatsby” festival going on. Everyone was dressed in 1920’s garb, there was a pie baking contest, a big-band playing old tunes, old cars, and a match of croquet. OH! It was wonderful!

We then proceeded to go in sketchy back alleys, hidden rooms, and jump into stranded white vans on side streets, all to take a look at “real handbags”in Chinatown. Slash knockoffs. But I did score a sweet COACH duffle for $20. I’m not mad.

Little Italy is just down the street. That’s one thing I love about New York. You can go to entirely different country, and then be able to speak English and enjoy the many wonderful things about America. I do love America (or according to McHenry…Amuuuurica) Anywho. Little Italy=Dinner and Gelato. Mmm.

Yesterday we went to a fabulous church—Redeemer Pres. Tim Keller is the minister and the man is a genius. We then ran into the Puerto Rican Pride Parade. Daddy Yankee was evvvverywhere. Gassssssssssolina.

We walked through Central Park, and I may or may not have passed out because of the heat. Its fiiiiiine.

That night we went to see BJ NOVACK at Caroline’s Comedy Club. BJ=Ryan (and a producer) from THE OFFICE. Omg. He’s amazing. Actually. We’re in love.

Last year in Paris I concluded a list of 100+ things that I just did not understand about the Parisian life. I think this will probably turn into a similar list. SO…

Things about YANKEE LIFE that boggles my mind:

1. Everyone is so lonely and sad. Look up from your Blackberry on the subway. Turn off your noisey iPod. SMILE. Embrace your neighbors. Yes, there may be 8 MILLION people here, but you can never have too many friends!



2. Very few places have public restrooms. No wonder the streets smell like urine. (Do you remember than episode of Seinfeld when Jerry and Kramer got detained because they peed in the mall parking lot? haa)



3. Dunkin Donuts is HUGE here. There are more Dunkin Donuts than there are Starbucks.



4. You can spot a tourist (and their fanny pack) from a mile away.



5. As written above, every cab driver’s name is Mohammed or Osama. No thanks, I’d rather walk.



6. A rat ran near me yesterday at Madison Square Garden. They need to bring in the Pied Piper and get rid of all the rodents!



7. EVERYONE SMOKES. No wonder there is so much pollution. And disease. And pleeeeeease. Don’t walk in front of me. Thanks.



8. My Colgate Spinbrush cost $11. (opposed to $4 in Fuquay)



9. Public Transportation. Enough said.



10. Two words. Northern Accents.

Welp, thats all for now.

go heels baseball!