Roadtrip- Part I

From the initial planning of my big move to New York, I knew it would be an adventure filled with plenty of memorable stories. After all we were driving through 8 states, in 2 1/2 days. So it should not have been so surprising that when I went last Wednesday night to pick up the reserved truck, I was told they didn't have the size I wanted. I had reserved a 10' truck. Instead, they wanted to give me a 16' truck at the 10' rate. I told them, "No. I don't want a 16' truck. I want a 10' truck. I have to drive into New York City, and I don't want to be driving a 16' truck. I don't need a truck that big. I don't want a truck that big." The guy was not prepared for me to refuse the bigger truck. Apparently most people are happy to get a bigger truck at the cheaper rate. I am not most people. I am a 5' girl moving to NYC. I was already nervous about the drive. I didn't want the bigger truck.
So I left that night without a truck. The plans of loading the truck were quickly abandoned. I went to meet my friends for my last night in town, hoping the distraction would keep me from worrying about how I was going to get my stuff to New York. The next morning I woke up early and still worrying. I called the truck company at 8am and asked if they were going to be able to get me the mini-mover. The guy said he would need at least a few hours to find one, then he would probably have to go pick it up. I called back at 12:30 and asked the girl who answered if they had found my truck. I was told not yet. I told her, "Well, I will be there at 3pm to pick up the truck. I'm hoping you will have the size I want. If not, I will take what I can get." After all, I had to have a truck to make my move to the big City.
I arrived at the truck stop shortly after 3pm. I might have done a little dance when I saw my mini-mover waiting for me. After signing all the paperwork, I was on my way. I was a little nervous as I drove it home, but my confidence grew as I successfully backed it into the driveway without taking out my parents' mailbox. My sister's boyfriend and one of my best blonde friends helped me get everything loaded up in the truck. After refusing the bigger truck, I briefly panicked that all my stuff wouldn't fit. But it was perfectly packed with room to spare.
Once my sister was home from work, I made her say a quick good-bye to her boyfriend, then we were on our way. We had only driven 20 minutes before our first stop. I wanted Chick-Fil-A for dinner since it doesn't exist in the North. That night we drove from Dallas to Little Rock, and after several bathroom stops, we finally got to our cousin's house shortly before midnight. After the initial drama of the truck rental, part 1 of the roadtrip was a success. 2 states down, 6 more to go.

back to my roots

It was fun being back in Texas again. My first few days were filled with dental and hair appointments. Having sold my car before moving to the City, I had to borrow my neighbors'. So, I drove myself around in a BIG, LOUD truck. I was certainly back in Texas. Taking the Texas stereotype even further, I found myself tuning to the country radio stations and instructing my hair stylist to make me BLONDE. After all, I'm a Texan in New York. They expect me to be blonde.
After saying good-bye to my parents who left Sunday morning for a week long cruise, I moved beyond the Texas stereotype and embodied the Dallas one. No longer in the truck, I was driving around in a very fast and sporty BMW. I enjoyed it while it lasted. After a week of visiting friends, it was time to pick up the Budget truck and begin the roadtrip back to New York.

I am my mother's daughter: A birthday tribute

Tonight we are celebrating my mom's birthday. Just like me, she began celebrating her birthday days before the actual day. My aunts are hosting an all-girls party tonight. Then she'll continue celebrating throughout next week as she and my dad are on their cruise. I'm known to drag out my celebration for every big birthday- 25, 26, 27,... However, my mom is more entitled to her month long celebration. On August 20th, she will turn 50.
When it comes to money or carats, bigger numbers are always better. But when it comes to age, most people dread the big numbers. But what does the number of your age really mean? Is it a reflection of your true age? Not really. In the same way most people think I'm barely legal to drink, my mom hardly looks old enough to have two daughters who can legally drink. There has been a time or two when people ask if she is our older sister. The look of shock each time someone learns she is our mom, not our sister, is enough to take years away from the looming 50.
So in the same way I say, "Thirties are the new twenties," I say it is time to redefine fifty. After all, it is only a number. Why let it define you?
F- Fifty and Fabulous: Live life that way
I- Interesting: You radiate with your life experience
F- Forty plus 10: If you feel forty, then be forty
T- Tittilating: You are more sexy and charming with each year
Y- Youthful: Recapture all that makes you feel young
Happy Birthday, Mom!

wishful thinking

Yesterday I asked a friend to help me move this upcoming Saturday. Today I confirmed I actually have an apartment where I will be moving my stuff. Talk about putting the cart before the horse. I guess my wishful thinking paid off.
Tomorrow I will put down the deposit, plus first and last month's rent. I am hoping in the next few days I will be offered a job to help pay for all this apartment stuff. Again wishful thinking...

a movie worth seeing

Tonight I saw Little Miss Sunshine. After the movie ended, I said to my friends, "This is the first movie I've seen in New York that is worth $10.75." It's that good.

stress is bad for your health

I got sick this week. It wasn't surprising. I've been under way too much stress as I fear being homeless in a week and jobless in three weeks. In my effort to get rid of some of the stress, I went running. As a result, my body just became run down. On Wednesday, as the rest of the City tried to stay cool during a heat wave, I stayed in bed trying to get rid of my fever. I had to be well by the next morning. My first and most promising interview was scheduled for Thursday morning. My fever finally broke at 3:30am, and I was at my interview by 9:00am. Apart from the coughing attack I suffered, I believe it went fairly well. I'm hoping to be called back for round two.
The apartment search continues. In about one minute, I'm leaving to go view 3-4 apartments. I might even apply for the very ugly one I saw a while back. At the very least, it is a place to live. Here is why I'm stressed: I want to move into a place one week from today. I'm not sure if I'm optimistic or just crazy.

movie in the park

This past Monday, I joined my favorite Texas-native/New York friend at Bryant Park. Each week they show a film on a screen. Throngs of people gather on the grass, benches and steps starting at 5pm. By the time I got there at 5:40, there wasn't much grass visible. I sat with my friend another Texan who just recently moved to the City. We ate dinner, listened to music, watched the wide variety of interesting people and chatted as we waited for the movie to start. Finally around 9pm, it was announced that the movie was starting. We watched a preview for a very cute penguin movie due out in November, followed by a Tweety and Slyvester cartoon. Then it was time for the feature- A Shot in the Dark. Groups of people stood and began dancing around as music signaled the start of the movie. We were part of that group. It might have been the best part of the movie. Monday night movie in Bryant Park is another fabulous New York tradition that I hope to do again. I'll just need to practice my dance moves first...