If you haven't read or ever heard of Maria Shriver's book, Ten Things I wish I'd Known- Before I went Out into the Real World, you should. For me to recommended a book is a huge deal. I'm not much of a reader (well, other than the trashy Danielle Steel books) and I flew through Shriver's book like it was a news paper.

Don't ask questions... Just do it.

Maybe I should write a book.... hmmmm.....

Peace, Love and reading instead of Nexflix,

B

Sleep Away Camp

In 3rd grade, my parents sent me to sleep away camp. I got very sick, bronchitis, phenomia and strep throat all in 4 weeks. Every chance I got, I would call home and beg for my parents to come and bring me home. The amount of tears that were shed in those weeks was almost humanly impossible. The feeling of just wanting to be home was the worst feeling for a 3rd grader. Till this day, never again do I want to feel like that. The feeling was comparable to having your gut ripped out, not able to catch your breath and just wanting to calm down but you cannot. I had dreams every night of just being home, being somewhere I felt comfortable.

That 3rd grader is starting to come out again. There is no where I am finding home. The feeling of being so far away, so disconnected, so helpless is starting to rise. After going home for Thanksgiving... I am starting to think that maybe, really this city is not for me. The issue is still up for debate, but how much longer am I suppose to live here? How much longer am I suppose to try and force myself to be happy? All the thoughts of moving out of my aunts house got shot down after I had an honest talk with my parents. Financially, there is no chance I can move out and really live. All the stress compiles on top of itself and on Sunday, it all boiled over into one crying mess of a mental break down.

Lesson Learned:

Maybe it takes learning what you don't want to finally see clearly what you do want....

Peace, Love and stuck in a rut,

B

Tell Me What To Do

This is just a general question for life. What are the answers? Is there some book that Indiana University forgot to give me at graduation? The book of life that has all the answers in the back. No one is suppose to look in the back, but in desperate times, consultation of the back of the book is necessary. If someone stole my copy, could you please give it back? I am in need of life answers.

I do not know what to do from here. Going home and being back in Atlanta was amazing and an eye opening trip. Sitting down and really looking at my finances, there is NO way for me to move out of my aunts house. I have obligations to our wonderful government and owe them for the education they provided for me. Although I am a little disappointed in this education, they did not prepare me for the real life. They did not prepare me for the mental break downs, the bills, the confusion, the decision making skills or anything that really matters. But this is neither here, nor there- thats another adventure to go on later in my life. I will fix this problem. I never want anyone else to feel like me- so lost and confused. There are answers and what I wish my teachers really would have told me.

But, the question still stands.... What now? Wheres my answers book?

Peace, Love and everlasting questions,

B

Options

I appologize for my absence the past week. Being in Atlanta was an eye opening experience.... But I will explain later. This is a blog I started thanksgiving day and never finished... So here we go.....

As this Thanksgiving day has been approaching- I have really been putting deep thought into what I can say that I am truly thankful for. Something short and sweet to explain everything in a nutshell.

The usual things: health, family, friends, ect. of course are things that I am always thankful for, but what has made this year different. What has separated this year from the past 22. After about a week of soul searching and hours on the treadmill thinking, I found it. The one thing that I am thankful for this year and sets every other year apart.

This year, I am thankful for options. This might sound a little off, so let me explain.

I am thankful for the fact that my entire life, I have had options. I am the one who chooses where to go, what to do and who to ultimately be. I always have had the option to let me parents into my life and I am thankful that I allowed them. My brother and I had the option to be friends and we are best friends. I had the option to go to New York after graduation and its been an adventure and a learning experience. I had the option to go wherever I wanted for college. I have the option to lead my life down whatever path I want. Not everyone has the luxury to make these decisions and to have different options.

For this Thanksgiving, I am thankful for the options in my life. Also, for the option to write this blog. Because, sometimes, I do not know what I would do without it. This white screen with my words on it has turned into my safe haven. Where no matter what I have to say, the computer never says no. I can write what ever I feel, and for this option, I am thankful.

Peace, love and many more options to come...

B

894 miles

Its funny how New York can seem like the biggest and smallest city in the world at the exact same time. Every day I walk with millions of people- bump into people I will never see again and share stares with individuals on the subway that have no direct impact on my life at this moment. Thats what makes this city so big- just the actual amount of people.

But this city is also the only place in the world where you will ever run into people. Just like that, in the middle of the street I bumped into a sorority sister I hadn't seen in 2 years- random and out of place. Well yesterday's story tops them all. I walked out of my building to get lunch and there were 3 men standing outside in Lassiter High school band jackets. I thought to myself,'thats cool, I know where that high school is.' As I was heading in a different direction, one of the man turned around and a voice that I though came from behind me... but actually came from my mouth goes, "Mr. Cole?" the man looked at me confused. I approached him and reached out my hand and said, "Hi Mr. Cole, I don't know if you remember me, but I'm Brandi Unger, you were my band teacher in middle school."

The confusion on his face went from 'who is this weird girl,' to 'oh my gosh.' The first words out of his mouth, "Bass Clarette, you tried so hard." (aka, I sucked, but I really did try hard... nothing worked to improve my skills, I just was not meant to play in the band. My nickname was 'squeeker' because no music would come out of the instrument... just squeeks). He was in town because the school is playing on Thursday in the Thanksgiving Day Parade. After a few minutes of small chit chat, we headed our separate ways. But who would have thought I would run into my middle school band teacher, the most random person- in front of my building- in New York city- 894 miles away from home.

This city is funny. Sometimes its bigger than I can handle and other times its the smallest place in the world. Just depends on the day. The same goes with my feelings with this city... it is turning into a love hare relationship.

But our relationship (our referring to me and New York) is taking a little break. We need to be separated from each other, take a breather. As exciting and fast moving as this city is, I am going back to my one true love tonight. Home. I have made sure that some of my belongings have been left here, forcing that I come back after break, but this should be interesting. Going home for the first time in 4 months... Beyond ready.

I will make sure to keep all of you in the loop of course. The next few weeks are going to be a bumpy ride... Guaranteed.

Peace, Love and who know's whats going to happen next.... or who I will run into,

B

New Challenge... Accepted

Last week was no facebook, and I have to say, my week (minus being sick) was a little better. I didn't think as much about what other people were doing- I stayed on track with my life. Check plus for me. I am going to keep the facebook stalking on limited for now on. Challenge complete.

This weeks challenge might be a little more difficult. I am going to tackle my texting. Because I cannot give up texting all together- I am going to have to take this one in small baby steps. Here's the game plan: in a group setting, my phone must stay in my pocket. Unless to make plans with someone in the same state as me, texting will be limited.

Let's see how this one goes with home on the horizon.... AKA, the south on Tuesday night!!!! It's been 4 months since I have been home and I cannot be more excited!!

Alright, Challenge has been set...

Peace, Love and Texting,

B

Bait and Switch

In college, our Realtor for senior housing was a pain in the butt. She was concerned about her house and swindling money out of poor college kids. She wine and dined us into getting a house we couldn't afford, over charged us for maintenance and took out security deposit. Even though she was a horrible human being to deal with, I have to say thank you to her for putting me through little leagues of brokers. Because now, New York city is the major leagues- dealing with people that have twice her sleezy and money stealing abilities.

This whole apartment search is going to be a tad harder than expected. I haven't felt this talked down to and degraded for being a woman since I was swindled out of $200 dollars at the car dealership. I am sure that not all brokers are greasy- but the few I have come in contact with are.

There was a listing on craigslist yesterday that looked amazing. Right in our price range, duplex- easy enough to make into a 2 bedroom, full kitchen and perfect location. It looked like a listing sent from heaven. Our names were written all over it. The second I read the ad, I called the number at the bottom. A very nice man answered and we set up an appointment at his office before going to see the place. My roommate and I arrive at his office and come to find that place does not even exist. He suckered us into coming to his office and sitting with him for an hour. He showed us places that were out of our price range and assumed that we were using mommy and daddys money. Clearly, we both are not and clearly we both are not stupid (even though he thought we were).

Is there somewhere in the job description of being a broker where it says that you have to assume all human beings are dumb and will eat up everything that you say? Does anyone know of a good broker in New York? If you do, please let us know....

Lesson Learned:

Be stern and get details from craigslist before making moves.

Peace, love and Bait and Switch,

B

Closet Space

I am so very sorry I have been absent the past few days. Apparently, not feeling well at work and throwing up at work is just not acceptable. I was sent home on Tuesday for just that reason, went to the Doctor on Wednesday and slept the day away. Feeling a little better now, but still have the remnants of whatever virus decided to take a hold of me.

BUT some very exciting news! Finally, after 4ish months, I am starting to look at apartments. This does mean that I will be living here for at least a year, but just as in grad school, there is a need to finish out the term. So- I will finish what I have started.

I have a roommate, and the funny thing about her is that we are in the EXACT same situation. She is living with her Great Aunt as well, same age and all. She is the only one who really understands where I am coming from and why I am itching to get out into a space to call my own. Her and I actually went to pre-school together, grew up together and went to high school together. We lost touch in high school- separate friend groups, but have come back together and it's going to be the perfect set up. We are hoping to be out within the month (Maybe a dream... but we are going to try- for sanity reasons).

Last night we met with a broker- and he was the reason there are stereotypes. He was just plain grimy.... We might be better off just doing this on our own, but in a city where both of us are a little inexperienced, having some help is necessary.

Our budget is a little lower than the standard of New York real estate- specifically for where we want to live. But we agreed that we would live in closets, as long as those closets are ours. Both of us do not have space to call our own and that is what maks living with family twice as hard.

So here we are at the next adventure... details to come!

Peace, Love and Closets,

B

Thanks Mark Zuckerberg

Because of my recent pledge to only go on Facebook once a day, I have solved the puzzle as to why productivity in the work place is lacking. One word: Facebook.

Today was the most productive day at work since I first started. It is not that I spend all day on facebook- it's that I am wondering what is happening on facebook, which slows my work production because my mindset is "I will work for 10 minutes straight, and then to reward myself, I'll take a quick facebook-stalking break." Same phenomium happens in college. The second you stepped into the library at Indiana University, you could see about half the students doing work, while the other half would be taking their 'facebook stalking break.'

So, I would like to make the announcement into the void: It is because of Mark Zuckerberg that not only do girls have another tool to obsess over boys with, we also have a less productive workforce. I am not saying that facebook is all bad, it has increased advertising, the common man's ability to get their ideas out there, it allows charities to raise more money- but it has disrupted the way we function as a society. Thanks to facebook, I could fake an entire lifestyle- for all my friends know, I could be climbing Mt. Everest or base jumping in California, simply because sending a text or facebooking is easier than picking up the phone and actually having a conversation. Thanks to facebook, getting over past relationships is ten times as hard- because of the targeting features, who ever I facebook stalk the most will always show up on my mini feed, making it IMPOSSIBLE to get someone out of your life without actually taking the time to de-friend (another rampage for another time) them, or going into your settings and having them removed from your mini feed. Thanks to facebook-all I think about are my college friends because, lets be honest with ourselves for a moment, thats really all the friends I have right now (even though I am making progress!).

But then again, thanks to facebook, this blog actually gets read randomly and my words get out into some sort of world. Facebook is a double edged sword. A device that I will just have to learn how to control, like my addiction to AOL Instant messenger when I was in 7th grade.

So, here's to you Mark Zuckerberg- Thanks for making my day more productive because I avoided everything you ever created.

Peace, Love and Productivity,

B

Short Term Goals- Peace out Facebook

After an afternoon of netflix and arts and crafts, I realized something. Just like in the movie Julie&Julia, I need short term goals. Goals that are attainable and have a clear end date- so I have to force myself to follow through. Unfortunately, I have the horrible tendency to start huge projects, take on too much at once and then never finish. There are multiple scrap books, picture frames and articles left incomplete.

So this is a little game we are going to play. This game is called, "Get Brandi back to life." Every week, I want to set self improvement goals. Now, we're not talking like weight loss or cosmetic self improvements- more like mental health self-improvements. I am going to actively think about creating a new life in this so called 'real life.'

Living in this technology world, filled with bbm, texting, facebook, g-chat and every other source of direct communication- getting away and creating some sort of mystery is thrown out the door. Maybe this is one of the reasons that getting over college has been so hard, because with a click of a mouse or scroll of my phone, I am right back in college world and wishing I was somewhere else. So, that is the first thing I need to actively stop. I need to stop wishing I was somewhere else, put my phone down, close facebook and look at where I am.

This week's goal. For 7 days, I am going to limit my facebook stalking. For one week, I will only get onto facebook once a day (yes this might seem stupid, but let's just say, I spend a lot of time on facebook- seeing as living out in Queens, I spend a lot of time alone, in my room with only my computer.). This challenge starts now.

Peace, love and short term,

B

Here's to you 4 months

I realized this morning- after waking up from the most amazing Dave Matthews concert at MSG- that I have been a nomad of this great, big city for 4 months. The amount of learning I have done in those 4 months is absurd. I realize life is about learning- but when will it be my time to take control of where my life is going- when will my path be crystal clear? The current philosophy I have been following is the 'say yes' philosophy. When an opportunity comes up, if there is no good reason to say no, the answer is always yes. For example: Do you want to come to dinner? Yes, or Want to see a museum? Yes, or have you tried this food? no, but I will. Every situation I have somehow found myself in is a direct result of my 'say yes' experiment. I will continue the say yes experiment- because it got me here, but only time will tell where it take me- possibly the 'say yes' will show me where my path is.

My life takes twists and turns- the past month or so has been a little rocky- but the light at the end of the tunnel is starting to shine again. There are some ideas brewing in my mind that are going to start seeping out- slowly but surly- things are going to start happening- because as always... It's all happening. I don't want to tell yall what these 'things' are quite yet- they still need some time to evolve, but they are going to be exciting. Like every experiment in my life- I am sure this one will take a crazy and unconventional path, but thats the fun of my life.....

Here's to the next four months- who knows where I will be then. Only in my wildest dreams did I imagine myself actually working in the city, meeting the people have I met, and seeing the things I have seen. If the next four months are anything like the past 4 months, better buckle that seat belt- its going to get interesting. They never taught me this thing called life in college- for all the money spent on classes and supplies- you would think I would have any clue of how to deal with real life- this stuck in the middle feeling. The feeling of getting lost in time and the shuffle, but the desire to break out- the need to shine and show what I can do. At some point in my life, I want to teach a 'this is what you REALLY need to know' class in a college- none of these required math or history classes- a class that actually teaches life lessons and can be beneficial after graduation- to help one person make an easier transition than I am having...Maybe in the future, once I figure out the answers to what you really need to know first... Stay tuned.

Lesson learned from the past 4 months:

My life is the road less taken- learn to deal with it. I might not be conventional, I might be a little different- but its me- there's no changing that.

Peace, Love and dirt roads,

B

Internal Alarm- please snooze

For as long as I can actually remember, I have been an early riser. Saturday mornings in our house started around 9am, compared to all my friends who slept in until 11, 9 might as well been the crack of dawn. Even in college, no matter how late I would crash, my internal alarm would go off around 9 am.

I am now having an issue. My internal alarm is now set at 6:39am, and this just will not work for me. My mom's days start around 5 am- and I can already see how my sleeping habits will progress. As the years go by, my internal alarm is going to get earlier and earlier- until there are permanent dark circles under my eyes and getting only 4 hours of sleep will suffice. How can this horrible trend be stopped? I will find this answer and no the answer will not be with ambien or any other type of sleeping aid (they really scare me). Maybe its the bed I am sleeping in now or maybe there are too many things on my mind- or maybe I just don't need sleep (I am positive beyond belief that this is NOT the correct answer), whatever the cause- I will find a way to fix it.... someday.

Last night, I went to an open bar with a few friends to watch the Indiana basketball game, we hung around for a few hours after the game and around 11ish, I decided it was time for my long haul back to queens. I crashed into bed around 1 am and expected to sleep until at least 10... Yea that didn't happen- which is why I am writing this blog into the void in the first place, because I am awake.

My eyes opened first at 6:39- a minute before my regular alarm goes off during the week. I reminded myself that it was Saturday and went back to sleep. Around 7:39, my little eyes opened again- and again, I cursed myself and reminded myself that it is Saturday and fell back asleep... for 20 minutes. On the third time my eyes opened, I had enough, so now I guess that the day has begun. At least its going to be 63 and sunny today- maybe my body just doesn't want me to miss the day, or is trying to torture me- I just can't decide.

Question to be solved:

How am I going to get some sleep???

Peace, Love and Internal Alarms,

B

No Day is the Same with Katy Perry

Yesterday, after an invigorating boxing class- I had my eyes set on Queens to make some dinner. On the way to the subway, there was a line wrapping around the building across the street. Being curious, I wandered across the street to ask some boys what was going on. Everyone was wearing credentials and it looked like something more fun than just a Broadway show. The boys explained to me that Katy Perry was playing a free concert. I though, 'how lucky, I would love to see her, too bad.' Just as I was walking away, the boy asks me if I wanted to join and extended his hand with a pass in it. "OF COURSE I WANT TO GO!" Without thinking, I took the pass and stood in line with the boys. I made friends with them of course and chit chatted with them while waiting to get into the building.

Once inside, I got separated from my new friends- but without hesitation, made some new ones. Concerts are just more fun when surrounded by friends, so I created my own.

All in all, I did not end up back in Queens until 11 and had to settle with cereal for dinner- but I will say that this experience is something that can only happen in this city- the city where no day is the same. One day I see a clown on the E train, the next day I see Katy Perry for free. But one thing that needs to stay the same, I need to carry a camera now at all times, specifically for situations like a free concert!

Lesson Learned:

Have a camera and always ask what is going on, who knows what could happen.

Peace, Love, and Hot 'n Cold (thanks Katy Perry)

B

10 days strong... Gotta Start Over

Well, I was 10 days strong of not crying- 10 days strong of trying hard to move on from college- to accept that no matter how much I try, I can never go back, only keep moving forward. 10 days strong, until tonight when I learned that basically, life moves on without me. This concept of other peoples lives moving on without my presence sounds simple and apart of life- but in my head, its not. I put in so much time and effort into loving my sorority and college, so why should they just move on if I can't just yet? Shouldn't they be just as upset as I am? The logical answer to all these questions is no, but the 'Brandi want's to be in 2 places at once answer' is YES.

I put my facebook stalking on limited the past 10 days, tried to not text as much the past 10 days (but honestly that really was a weak effort), tried to disconnect myself from my friends in Bloomington to make my life easier. Unfortunately, I found out tonight that that tactic to get over college is not the right one. I have this trend to just cut people and phases out of my life by just complete ignoring them- shutting them out, and this is the first situation that I just cannot shut out. I actually have to deal with my emotions- deal with the grieving and learn to live with it instead of running away.

Reason I cannot cut people and things out of my life just because I do not want to deal with them: My sorority had board elections tonight. Not only did I not know this was happening, I was uninformed of who was running. Everyone else knew, why didn't anyone tell me? Just because I graduated does not mean I dropped of the face of the earth. But to be honest with myself, there is no one else to blame but myself. I tried to cut them out, why shouldn't they. In hindsight, this is not that big of a deal, but right now, at this second in time- it is a big deal to me, because I have finally realized that it's time for me to grow up, be a big girl, and learn to SUCK IT UP. Yes mom, I have finally said it out loud: I have to learn to suck it up.

Lesson Learned:

I can't keep cutting people and things out: I have to just learn to deal and keep on keepin' on.

Peace, Love and maybe this time I'll last 15 days (all in the name of progress),

B

Senator Advice.

Just a pre-story for what happened to me this week:

When 9/11 happened, I was in 8th grade. Being young and feeling removed, I wanted to help. So, I did what I knew best- made friendship bracelets. I raised around 800 dollars and needed to find a way to get the money to the President- not to a specific charity, because there were so many, I couldn't choose. In my 8th grade head, I figured that if I gave the money straight to George W. Bush, my money would be put to where he saw fit (also in my 8th grade head, $800 dollars might have as well been a million dollars). So, with no fear, I rang up the Senator of Georgia's office and demanded to speak to him. Our state senator must have seen something in me, or just really was curious to see who this rambunctious 13 year old was, because he came to my house, picked up the money and a letter I wrote and took it with him on Air Force One. When he returned, he came back to my house with a few presents: a hand written thank you note from the president himself and an American flag that was flown over the capital in my honor for 15 minutes. Those gifts are possibly the coolest things I have ever received. The State Senator that I originally contacted to help me get to the president and I have stayed in touch over the years- I have called him with questions and just updates about my life.

Now fast forward to the present:

My student loans are all about to go into repayment in a month, 4 loans in total. One private and three federal. The loan companies keep sending me literature about repayment schedules, rules and a lot of information that I cannot understand. There are a lot of things I am good at: making presentations, writing papers, solving social problems, making light of situations. But there are a few things I am highly aware I am NOT good at: math and numbers. Even when it comes to leaving tips at restaurants, I struggle.

Because of my confusion with numbers and the high amounts of anxiety I get just looking at my repayment information, I decided to reach out for help. Who best to explain federal loan information to me other than someone actually in the government (I figured)- and who do I have contact with (I thought)- Of course- the senator that took interest in me 9 years ago.

Now, I guess my head works a little differently than everyone else's, but people are people when it comes down to it. I have always thought this way (my Bat Mitzvah speech went around the phrase "people are people too.") and never really think twice, once someone is my friend, or I think they are my friend- I call them by their first name. Even the Senator. He called me at 9:15 on Wednesday morning, see as I was at work, I asked if I could give him a ring later- he said of course and gave me his cell phone number. Thinking nothing of it, I went on with my day- with the plan to call him later in the day.

My mom called me during my lunch break and I told her how I called the senator (still referring to him by his first name) and was planning on calling him after work when I had more time and this was her response: "First of all Bran, you need to ask him if it is ok that you call him by his first name. He might see you as disrespectful. Second of all, a state senator calls you and you ask to call him later. Who are you??" Now, clearly, I did not see this as a huge deal, I had contacted him before for advice and questions- why was this any different. He hadn't heard from me in a while and I wanted to catch him up on my life as well as get some advice.

When I called him after work, the first thing I asked him when he answered was "how would you like me to address you?" His response to me, "Honey, you call me whatever you like." I am fully aware he is a very important person in our country and I have full respect for him, but as I said in 7th grade and now still, people are people too. I truly believe this. If I had a different relationship with the senator- maybe I would have automatically addressed him as Mr. Senator, but we don't.

When we spoke, I told him all about my New York life and explained about my student loans and put me in contact with someone who really can explain my loans in 3rd grade language (which I need). And that was that (I also e-mailed him the link to my blog. So, senator, I hope you are reading.. and passing it along to your friends....). But I needed advice and I reached out for it- no big deal.

I told my best friend from growing up this story and this was his response, "Bran, only you. The things you do, only you." My answer- I just do me, have never really thought twice about the way I do things... But I guess its working for me.

Lesson Learned:

People are people too (I actually didn't just learn this, but I hope I taught it to you).

Peace, Love and Advice from everywhere,

B

No Crying on the E train

You know that feeling when you walk onto an airplane and you happen to have the seat right next to a bouncing, smiling 3 year old? That feeling of "oh yea, you are so cute now, but 100 feet up into the air, I might want to put a sock in your mouth." There is no difference from that feeling to the feeling of seeing a 3 year old on the E train when there is a 30 minute commute ahead.

I haven't been riding the subway around rush hour the past few weeks due to my extreme effort to have a social life. Typically, I have been leaving work around 5:30, to get to either a boxing class or a sports conditioning class (getting myself back into some sort of shape)- after working out (around 7ish), I have been meeting friends for dinner or meeting at their apartments to hang out and watch TV. Well, with spending so much time in the city, laundry has taken a back seat in the level of importance. Now knowing that, it has been about 2 1/2 weeks since I have washed any clothes, so my time was up, I needed to get some clean clothes.

But back to the screaming 3 year old. The reason I was on the E train during rush hour was because I needed to do laundry.

The train doors opened, I entered with about 10 others and we all saw the same sight and all had that thought of 'oy' when we saw the bounding, laughing, pink cheeked 3 year old. Without fail, the second the train doors slid closed, the once happy 3 year old, let out a scream about 5 times louder than my i-pod. This type of screaming is lethal. The only person I felt more sorry for than all 50 passengers (including myself), was the child's dad. He looked not only embarrassed because he couldn't control his child, but tortured. It can easily be assumed this type of screaming is typical for him.

At the end of the 30 minute ride, the gateways to silence opened. My stop finally came and finally the ringing in my hears subsided. Not a second too soon. My laundry got done and I actually ate a home made meal (made by me, my aunt doesn't really enjoy cooking)- all done with an echo in my hear.

Lesson Learned:

next time I see a small child on the subway, no matter if there is a cute guy or the president in the car, I will switch trains. The headache is not worth it- at all.

Peace, Love and Quite Subway Rides,

B

Brooklyn Graffiti

On my adventures this weekend, I found myself on the Williamsburg bridge over to Brooklyn. How I got there is still a mystery to me. My goal for the day was to just keep walking south, explore a part of the city that still was a mystery. Getting away from Times Square was a nice break considering now I know that part like the back of my hand. Anyways, Soho was cool and the part of China town I smelled seemed alright, but what really caught my attention was the bridge. I had never seen such a large bridge not in a car- so, as part of the adventure, my feet kept walking towards the large piece of articture. From far away this bridge looks pristine- with the water glisting below it. But once a little closer and actually on the bridge, I noticed that it was covered with grafiti. My first thoughts- how coudl someone ever deface this? Some people worked years to build this bridge and how disprectful to deface it. Then I started to actually look at some of the spray paint drawings- some of them are not just drawings, they are pieces of art. The creativity that went into some of the murals is nothing short of talent. Granted, do I still think its wrong to deface someones property, yes- but do I no think that some Grafiti is not just drawings, Yes.

Lesson Learned:

Slow down and really look at things, you never know what your missing. Some objects may seem run of the mill, but take a closer look and there might be a masterpiece.

Peace, Love and Spray Paint,

B

Always A Tourist

This weekend has been the best weekend on record so far for me living in New York. Finally, and confidently, I can say that I have a few friends that there is no hesitation to call just to hang out. It has taken me 3 months almost- and it finally happened.

I guess now is compared to the calm after the storm. The storm being my complete mental and physical break down of last week and now to the calm: me re-evaluating every single aspect of my adventure through New York. I have made the executive decision to lower my standards about how my life should be after college. The standards I set for myself were so outrageous, no wonder I was unhappy. All I concentrated on was how much fun my other friends were having together in Chicago. It's a hard pill to swallow when facebook flaunts how all my girlfriends are going out together and continuing their friendships while I was alone with a few friends in a new, unfamiliar city. A few things learned from this: Facebook lies and pictures on Facebook lie. Just because my friends are together, does not mean they aren't having just as hard of a time as I am. My decision includes not worrying about how much fun everyone else is having, rather worry about how much fun I am having and push the limits of how well I can function on the least amount of sleep (not so much worry- wrong word to use- more so focus on). It also includes being in the now. I have always said that life happens in the now, not tomorrow, but never really practiced my preachings. Constantly I worry about what will happen next week, but this weekend started the new. The farthest I am going to allow my self to think about is the next few hours. I am going to begin to use this city as my real playground- as my backpacking site. Everyone use to go on backpacking trips to Europe after college. Since clearly I don't have to funds for that, I will substitute Italy with Little Italy and China with China Town. I will treat this city every second like its my first time, seeing everything and exploring everywhere.

Going along with this revelation of exploring, I really got into character for Halloween on Saturday night - Naturally and fitting, I went as a tourist, dressed head to toe in "I love New York" stuff. That night was the perfect start to my new approach to this city. I adventured to a new friends house party in Alphabet city, wandered to a bar, followed by a slice of pizza, rode the subway at 2:30 am, asked a random guy for a slice of his pizza (surprisingly he gave it to me) and ended up back at my friend's house in midtown. Every part of that night was unplanned- just went with the flow and ended up being amazing.

Lesson Learned:

Just as Nike says, Just do it. AND, there is room for a second chance New York.

Peace, Love and Tourists,

B