I’m my sister’s keeper

I mentioned this briefly in my 25 by 25 update, but big news in the Dooley household: I am moving to New York City!  

The day before I flew into the States, Erin had a dance audition at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in the heart of Manhattan.  It seemed to me that the audition was just so Erin could keep her auditioning “edge,” but it was more than that.  Next thing we knew, Erin was accepted, I offered to move to the city with her, and we found an apartment.  

So, officially, on January 18, Erin and I will be moving to the Lower East Side of Manhattan.  We have a fully furnished one bedroom apartment with a view overlooking the Williamsburg bridge, so we have been told.  Aunt Patty has major connections, and got us an amazing place, that was too good to turn down.  Unfortunately, however, the building turned down Wilbur.  So, he stays behind in Saratoga.

Yes, I cried when we found out Wilbur couldn’t come.  But, as Garvey put it, for a while I would cry if someone poked me.  Garvey tested his “poking theory” a few times, and he was nearly 100% accurate.  I cried nearly every time he poked me.  But, I think I have moved out of the crying phase of moving back from Thailand.  I think.  Garvey was out of town for the last week, so there wasn’t any poking.  

Even though my mother sent out a mass email and cry for help with apartment hunting, it took less than 24 hours to commit to one.  And as Uncle John blatantly pointed out in an email to my mom, the apartment we have is nowhere near where we were looking.  Ideally we wanted a place close to Erin’s dance studio, but alas, we are over four miles, and at least two subway lines away from it.  It just forces us to learn more of the city, right?

Now that our apartment and move-in date are set, I have a plan.  Well, sort of.  I know where I will be living, so I feel as though that is a start.  Many of my friends have been asking me what I will do next.  I excitedly answer, “oh, me?  I’m moving to they city on the 18th.”  I play it off as though I am awesome, and I have something lined up.  Then comes the, “oh, wow!  What are you going to do there?”  I hesitate, explain that my sister is the impressive one, and I’m just going along for the ride.  I am my sister’s keeper.  (But not in the creepy Jodi Picoult book way)

Beyond that, the city is my oyster.  While the bakery is still my dream, I need a job.  Any job will do.  Preferably one that will pay me, but, hey, beggars can’t be choosers.  I’m also still thinking about taking a few classes.  And, enrolling in classes, can’t I get a free fitness center membership?  I can get smart and get skinny- works for me!  And then there are the men.  Obviously, picking up the cuties with puppies at the dog park is out of the question, so I’ll need a new strategy... and I’m still working on that.

25 by 25 Update

Back in September I made a list of 25 things I want to accomplish before I turn 25.  Now, I don't want to share every single thing I do with the endless abyss we call the internet, but I did share 19 goals with you. And, as of January 2, I have made a pretty good dent.  I have exactly 205 days left until I turn 25, and to complete these goals.  Let's recap:

1. Read 25 books
I have read 10 books since September 16.  That's okay.

2. Bungee jump
Done and done!  If you didn't see the post about it, check out the video here!

3. Drive a big motorcycle
Darn.  I never had the chance for T. Paul to teach me how to drive his bike.  Anyone want to teach me?

4. Learn to juggle
I'm doing quite well.  Unfortunately, I didn't make any concrete goals when it comes to this one, so I'll just keep practicing.

5. Snowboard
Well, we need snow.

6. Go to New Zealand.
I did more than go to New Zealand, I rocked New Zealand, and loved every second of it.  Read about that trip here, here, here, here, here, and here! Yes, I wrote a lot about NZ.

7. Run a half marathon
I'm still thinking about the Lake George Half at the end of April.  Anyone care to join?

8. Go to Burning Man
It doesn't happen until Labor Day weekend, so I'll just have to wait.

9. Learn to play golf
Hmmm.... I think it's too cold right now.

10. Take a tour of Alcatraz
On my next trip to San Francisco- I promise!

11. Complete a Rubiks cube
I'm back to doing 2/3 of it.  I have fully completed it a handful of times, but not without the online instructions.

12. Go to the New York Public Library
Oh, I'm moving to NYC on January 18, have I not told you yet?  So, this one should be a piece of cake.

13. Get my scuba certification
I kicked this one's butt.  Not only did I get my scuba certification, I got my advanced!  And next week I get to go diving again!  Yeah!

14. Play tennis
I brought my racket home... does that count?

15. Finish learning the Thai alphabet
Check!

16. Have over 5000 views on my blog!
Really?  Holy moly!  I wanted to have 5000 views by the end of July.  And as of January 2, 3:34 pm EST, I have, drumroll please, 6,270 hits.  Whoa!  Thanks, everyone!  You keep me motivated to write.

Resolutions

I have never taken New Year’s resolutions seriously.  More appropriately, I have always thought them to be silly.  Too often I hear people make resolutions, break them within a few weeks, and forget about them.  So in the past I have made little resolutions such as, trying to always have my nails painted, or ironing all of my clothes.  While I did really like the nails resolution, and I sit here typing, loving my black nails, I think I’m going to stick with what I already have, my 25 before 25 list.  

Instead of trying to change something in my life- eat less, workout more, bake more, write more, complain less, etc., I think, hasn’t everything changed?  My life has been flipped upside down and inside out in the past few weeks, and I think that is enough change, for the time being.  So, I would rather stick to my goals.  I’m going to stick to the things I want to accomplish, the things I listed back in September.  I have until the end of July to complete the list, and I’m pretty pumped.  

Oh, but there is one resolution I want to stick to, and it involves my blog.  I want to post more photos to my blog.  When I was traveling, the photos were easy.  But now, only blogging about everyday things, I find it harder to remember to take photos.  I’m going to work on it.

My view of Uncommon Grounds right now- minus the black fingernails.

Check back tomorrow for my 25 before 25 update! 

"It is not your year"

Happy 2012, readers!

My new year came in with a bang.  Literally.  Fireworks on Caroline Street, and champagne cork earrings, and my year was off to a great start.

Nicole and I took a pretty ridiculous trip to Crossgates Mall on the afternoon of New Year’s Eve in search of the perfect party outfits.  Basically, we were looking for sparkles and sequins.  If we couldn’t glance into a store and have sparkles catch our eye, we kept walking.  I walked away with a pair of silver shiny shorts, and Nicole purchased a sequined top.  Dealing with the crowds of women also in search of the perfect pizazz was less than ideal, but we did quite well.

We each went home and got ready separately, but thank goodness for iphones.  On more than one occasion I sent a picture message with the words “does this look okay?”  And then, “are you sure?”  By the time Nicole picked me up, I knew she would approve of my outfit.  A nice red top (my mom told me I look good in red), my sparkly shorts, black tights and a “classy” hairdo, and I was ready to go.  Oh, wait.  What earrings should I wear?  But, of course!  Garvey made me earrings for Christmas!  Yes, I rocked champagne cork earrings.  They were a bit cumbersome, but what night could be more perfect?

When we arrived to Maya’s apartment, she was just putting the finishing touches on her epic outfit.  Did you know that fake eyelashes are in?  News to me.  Maya rocked a small top hat that she perched on her head and a very gold dress.  She then informed us of her resolution: to be more fashion forward.  Let me tell you, she put me and my sparkly shorts to shame.  Her fashion forwardness is going to keep me on my a- game when it comes to style.  Or, she will just make me look very 2011.

After cameos at separate parties throughout the town, Nicole, Kareem and I headed to our final destination, Shane and Jake’s apartment, together.  We met Devin there a little before 11 pm, and spent the next 45 minutes obsessively checking the time.  Between the time checking, we had plenty of time to catch up, joke around, and have a little dance party.  Our dance party even involved a headlamp with a strobe setting.  It was awesome.  

Devin tried on Maya's fashion forward top hat.  Watch out, Devin, if you read my blog, you will be part of it.

Without a second to spare, we made it onto Caroline Street for the fireworks.  For some reason, I remember the fireworks being more impressive in the past, but maybe I’m just thinking of Kelley and David’s fireworks.  Yes, their wedding fireworks beat Saratoga New Year’s fireworks.

We spent the next few hours maneuvering through outrageous crowds, but enjoying the night.  We all ended up staying at the same apartment where the dance party had been, and we woke up to this:

As the brothers shoved the dry and brittle tree out the third story window, Jake growled “Christmas is OVER.”  And so it was.

I briefly checked all of my favorite blogs for New Year posts as we sat around the living room that was now covered in tree needles, but missing a tree.  And, sure enough, everyone had posted.  Except for me.  When Nicole and I saw Maya, I expressed my concern for my delayed New Year’s Day blogging.  Maya looked at me and said, “it is not your year.”  Darn.  Only 1 pm on January 1st, and it was already not my year.

I don’t believe it though.  There are already lots of things to look forward to.  I think this could be my year.  And yours too!

Happy new year, readers!  Here’s to a great 2012!