Another reason to love Matt Damon...

...because he can also be Matthew Mcconaughey...if you close your eyes. Ahh, shirtless Matthew. Don't you listen to the jokes, you keep that shirt off.

Dun dun dun dun!

Any of you watching Monday Night Football last night were greeted by this "announcement" from Barack Obama. I've got to say, I like him a little bit more after seeing it. Always nice to show the humor and and the personality behind all the politics. I heard his book was very good, someone want to read it and give the me the summary?

Enjoy!

Hey Jealousy

Ever lose a friend to their significant other? Ever lose a best friend to their significant other?

Hopefully your answer to both of those questions is "no", but unfortunately for me, my answer is "yes". Oh, and "significant other" can be replaced with a various number of words, none of which could be said in front of your grandmother.

I guess I've always been aware of how some women can change when they are dating someone, some more extreme than others, but this is my first experience with a GUY changing when he is in a relationship. I won't go through ALL the details, but I have been friends with this guy for 6 years, close as can be, been through a lot together. In addition to a close friendship, there was also a sexual relationship, off and on. Nothing serious really, the friendship always took precedence, but we were definitely beyond friends in many ways. Anyways, nothing has happened between the two of us in almost 2 years now. We've gone our separate ways (he's in the Navy & I moved to NY), but we always remained in contact and I was by far out of all of his friends the one who visited him the most, no matter where he was stationed. His girlfriends came and went (most of which I easily became friends with) and that was that.

Fast forward to the present.

Last year around this time he started dating a new girl. This pretty much meant nothing to me, he's quite the ladies man. Within a matter of 2 months they were living together, back in FL (formerly in Cali). As usual I made the attempt to befriend the new girl, offering up my friendship, especially when he was away on duty. Everything seemed fine.

Then the shit hit the fan.

She asked him about our relationship and he came clean telling her that in years past it was much more than a friendship, but that in the past year or so, we've been just friends. Well boy did things change. She freaked out, saying she was "shocked". Eventually after a loooong email to her letting her know I wasn't interested in him anymore like that and that it was ancient history, things seemed to be ok. Well long story short, all this time Ive spent sincerely reaching out to her has been crap because all the while she has been secretly hating me, jealous of my friendship with him. The worst part is that over time, my relationship with the guy has dwindled to practically non-existent. He has told me that he doesn't take my calls when she is there because it starts a fight. Basically, in an over sized nutshell, Ive lost all contact with him and he has made no attempt to contact me. Months now.

Oh yea, and ps, they're engaged. I found out via Myspace, she posted a bulletin before he could even call me.

At least so I thought up until last night when a close friend of both of ours informed me that they actually already got married....but the ceremony is next year. Right, Im sure I'll be invited.

When I discuss this with friends I realize I am not sad, but more in a state of shock that I could be so surprised by someone who I have been so close to for all these years. It's sad to make that realization that he wasn't the person you thought, but also lets you know who your real friends are.

Why do people change like that? Guys in particular. Are they so blinded by whatever they feel that they see the awful demands of their loved one as acceptable? Or are they just gutless, scared little bitches?

I think you know my answer. Happy Monday!

The skinny on NYC

Well it's official, CNN just reported that New York is now the first city in the nation to ban artificial trans fats in restaurant food. Trans fats are said to be harmful because they contribute to heart disease by raising bad cholesterol. Apparently, they also decrease "good cholesterol". Because of this, some experts say that makes trans fats worse than saturated fats.

Anywho, the main question is, when I order my quarter pounder w/ cheese and fries from McDonald's, will it still taste the same? Let's hope so. I've read that the larger chains have been toiling around with alternate oil blends, but are yet to comment on any of them. Who cares about the chains really though? Most of the best places I have eaten at in the city have nothing to do with chains. Not sure how my favorite soul food places will fare with the new regulations on who they prepare their fried chicken, but here's to hoping.

Speaking of chains, isnt it just lovely about the Ecoli breakout from the Taco Bell restaurants in New Jersey? Ick. I use to LOVE Taco Bell. In pretty much every place I lived, except in my current apartment, there has always been a Taco Bell within either a 5 minute walk/drive. This love of Taco Bell continued until this past summer when I had my first encounter with food poisoning. Yep, you guessed it, from the lovely Taco Bell. I couldn't eat anything for four days, had a 101 temp, and basically force-fed myself a cracker every now and then. All I did was lay in bed and curse Taco Bell. I've only had Taco Bell one time since and it was a bean burrito, I figured how much could they screw that up? Its amazing what you rationalize when you're hungry.

This e-coli outbreak is definitely enough to hold be back from any other Taco Bell purchases for a while....unless I am in Florida, because what are the chances? Then again, Florida was also the place that after a few years of eating at this great chinese buffet there was an article in the paper that the board of health found cats in their freezer. But that's a story for another day.

Snowflakes & Cheesesteaks- the first hints of winter

So on my cold walk to the subway today I saw the first trickles of this winter's snowfall. To me, someone who has grown up and spent most of her life in Florida, winter still fascinates me and yes, after over two years of living here, I still get giddy about the first snowfall. Let's not state the obvious, we all know New York City is an amazing place, but there is something about the city at Christmas time that makes it magical. If you have never visited NYC in December, I highly recommend it.

It's suppose to get in the twenties tonight, which means that tomorrow morning will be only that much harder to break from the nestled warm cocoon I create in my bed. This morning I pushed snooze 7 times. Seven. And it was only in the 40's today. Its going to be a long winter. I love it though. At least right now I do. Talk to me again mid February when I am taking my morning walk to the subway station in 15 degree weather while walking through slush. Something tells me I am going to sorely miss my old apartment that was so close to the subway.

The new apartment isn't bad though, its actually quite nice. I'm still getting use to the neighborhood. At first I felt sort of out of place, probably because I didn't have a dog or a stroller attached to me, but as I explore a little more, the Upper East Side isn't that bad, although I think I'll always be a Greenwich Village girl at heart.

For some reason on really cold nights I get this craving for a Philly cheesesteak. Sounds weird, but the first winter my old roommate and I spent here we found this AMAZING cheesesteak place in the village. Seriously, best cheesesteak Ive ever had, and I'm quite the critic. Well I would say we ordered from them at least twice a week that winter. The amazing-ness of these sandwiches cannot be described, you've just got to try them. For any NYC'ers, if you haven't tried Wogie's, you are seriously missing out. I don't know where I was going with this, but now I am seriously hungry. I doubt Wogie's on W10th will make a delivery to the East 80's. That would be one long bike ride. Damn.

Looks like its Tuna Helper. I can hardly wait.

Resurrected

Three numbers: 178, 39, 12.

The number of posts for each year since 2004. As you can see, upon my move to NYC, the posts have dramatically decreased even though the blog-worthy items in my life have probably tripled. I attribute this to various things, none of which I'll go into detail over now- most of you know them anyway(grad school, internships, working in Italy, and my new job). The hiatus from June until now was probably the longest one I have had so far. Unforuantely since then, due to lack of inactivity, all of my old comments (via Haloscan) have been deleted. Well, hiatus = over.

I realize lately that I've found myself thinking "oh I would blog about that" when I read or heard of something, but due to the demise of my old blog design, I had not made the move. Well enough of that. Here it is, at least for now, the blah blog design, attempting to differentiate itself just a tad from the other "templates"...it has a long way to go, but at least I can write.

Welcome back little bloggy, I've missed you bunches.

Just when I get going....

...the designers of this blog go out of business and take most of my images with them....and I am left with this sorry excuse for a blog. I contacted one of them, who is trying to get in touch with the other who has my stuff on her server. How they didnt anticipate this happening is beyond me, but Im hoping to have it recitified quickly or else they are going to have one pissed off chica to deal with...actually probably A LOT of pissed off people. So until then, you have to look at this pitifulness. My apologies.

My birthday weekend in Florida was nothing but loveliness the whole time. I LOVE being home with my family, not much beats it. So now I'm back in the city and relishing what's left of the calm before the storm. On Monday I begin the first of two major golf tournaments I am working...15 straight days of golf with hellish hours, not much money, and somewhere in the midst of that I have to take midterms. Yahoo.

So in my personal reflection time today, I came up with two solid problems I have to deal with:
1) I feel like I am getting bigger by the hour
2) I am slowly on my way to having no money

The common factor: Beer

Thats right, I blame both those problems on going out, which sucks because how am I suppose to meet new people and stuff if I cant spend money and I cant drink? Dont even tell me the f'ing park. I know there is plenty to do in this city, but trust me, 97% of it costs money. Luckily since I am working so damn much soon, I doubt I will even have time to go out. Perhaps I'll hope for a social life in July.

All you bitches with perfect stomachs and toned arms that I always see walking around with pizza and cupcakes, you can bite me.

My birthday weekend awaits

Well judging by the number of hits over the past few days coming from people doing a blog search for Jake Gyllenhaal and ending up at my site, it looks like I'm not the only one who appreciates his fineness. Thanks all, I feel a little more normal now.

Tonight was the season premiere of "The Hills". Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about, I know you've been waiting for it just as much as I have. LC from Laguna Beach is back in her own show about her new life in LA. Judging just from this first episode, it looks like that girl Heidi is going to win the "if you could punch anyone on the show who would it be?" contest. If its half as good as the Laguna Beach drama, I am one lucky ducky. I have to say though (and this is for the Laguna Beach fans), what is up with her in the wedding veil at the end of the promo? It better not be Jason.

So tomorrow I am off to lovely Florida for the weekend to celebrate my......wait for it......27th birthday. Yep, 27 freaking years old on Sunday. Wow. I'm not even stressing out about the age thing though, I think 29 is my scary age because then its going to feel like I am rushing to do all those things I said I was going to do before 30. So this weekend it will just be about lounging by the pool, family, the beach, barbecues, and whatever else I can throw into my couple of days there. Most importantly- central air conditioning. God bless it.

Happy weekend y'all!

Where there's a Maggie, there's a Jake

Ok, so I swear this is not going to become a Jake Gyllenhaal blog, but in conclusion from yesterday's post...some interesting findings:

Well while I was writing yesterday's post, I was hunting around for pics of him in nyc, when I came across recent pics of Maggie Gyllenhaal coming out of her West Village apartment. Now, I have no doubt that when he is here, he stays with her, so of course this was exciting. The only problem was that there was no address, street sign, anything other than the wall of the building in the background. The good news, that wall was a certain shade of blue, one that I can't recall seeing or being common for a building.

Ok fast forward a couple of hours. I am leaving the gym, which is a few blocks further west than my apartment, and it is such a lovely day I decide to walk around the area. Kids are playing in the fountain at the park, I walk past the movie set where they are filming A Girl's Guide to Fishing & Hunting, I stop to have lunch at this cute little sushi place.....I continue my walk. Then, there it is. The blue wall. Immediately my mind plays tricks on me and I can't recall if it's the same blue or not. Shit! So, I take out my camera and snap a pic.

Later that evening when I return home, I compare the pic to the one online. I am 95% sure its the place, or at least the street. You be the judge.


Here are the pics from online. Notice the blue building, the bars on the windows, the tree which is next to the green iron sign:

Ok, now here is MY photo taken yesterday:

The bars on the window are there, on the last two, and there is the tree next to the green pole. So what does this mean?! Of course there is the possibility that street isn't where she lives, maybe she just parked her car there. What it does mean though, is that I'm close, pretty damn close. I'd say for having the whole West Village to go off of, I'm pretty happy with my work.

So what do you guys think, am I right on the money?

I wish I knew how to quit you

My love of Jake Gyllenhaal has hit an alltime low as I find myself now googling his name to see what new "news" they have on him....yea, on a daily basis. I might eventually need an intervention.

Here's the scoop:
Well yet 2 more women in addition to the recent gossip have been linked to Jake Gyllenhaal this past week. Sadly, I am not one of them. The NY Post reports that he was out dining with Jennifer Aniston at Babbo Restaurant in the West Village. You would think the fact that he was out with her would bother me, but actually its the fact that he was TWO BLOCKS FROM MY APARTMENT YET AGAIN AND I NEVER SAW HIM. I swear, anytime I read anything on him in New York, he is always spotted directly in my vicinity, yet I never see him.



The more upsetting gossip (only because I am jealous) comes from pictures taken of Jake and Natalie Portman this past weekend, in which they grabbed dinner and he gave her tulips. Awwww. You know, I really like Natalie Portman, so even if there were something going on, I think I could handle it....you know, eventually. Oh, and guess what neighborhood they were in? That's right.



Maybe I'll go take a stroll around the neighborhood....

Ok, enough is enough

I realized I either have to be on the blog horse or hop off....I think I've been dangling from the saddle for the past year....ok, too many horse riding analogies. Anyways, I've decided to give the old timely updates thing a try again. Does this mean I won't fail? Of course not, but I like the idea of at least giving it a shot. Now to find all my readers again.........

Update
So since the last time I wrote here I've had a couple of really cool jobs, one of which was as a Venue Manager for the Tribeca Film Festival. Man, that was an experience, but a very cool one at that. I met tons of directors and producers, not to mention a good amount of celebrities. It was also my first position in which I ran the show for the whole venue, which was stressful, but fulfilling. Since then I've worked for NBC on an NHL playoff game and also have the US Open and a tournament for the Golf Channel coming up in June. I love freelancing, but am definitely looking for something more stable in the meantime.

Update
I graduated 2 days ago!! Amazing. For those of you who have been here since the beginning, you remember my posts on here anxiously awaiting to see if I was even accepted. Crazy how the time flies. I don't officially get my diploma until August because I am finishing up 3 classes this summer, but it's great to know this is all culminating.

Update
I'm dating someone great! HA, yea right. I think we all know that my time here in NYC has been filled with Mr. Wrongs and shitload of school and work. Funny story though, the other night after going out drinking with friends and meeting the hot boyfriend of one of my friends, I returned to my apt a wee bit depressed as to when the hell I was EVER going to meet someone great. The next morning I woke up, slight headache, and went to the computer to check emails...when I notice.....an email from www.eharmony.com saying "you're almost finished! please click here to finish the personality profile you started". Umm, what? Then it all comes screaming back to me. That's right, in my drunked stupor I went onto that site and did as much of that profile as I could stand. The stimulus: In the past 2 weeks I have heard of 2 people I know going on there and finding their "soulmate", not to mention those damn commercials. Oh lordy, I never cease to amaze myself. I haven't decided if I should complete the rest of it or not, stay tuned, this will no doubt be a journey.

I hope she screams like hell

The more I read about Katie Holmes, the more I just feel sorry for her family and friends. After attending an interview with Tom Cruise for Parade Magazine, she has now been classified as as the newest Stepford Wife, completely devoid of thought and her own opinions. Apparently the interviewer said that he was stunned that Katie never stopped smiling, even while Cruise discussed being beaten when he was younger.

Ok, creepy.

Now what about this silent birth stuff? All I know is that the mother is suppose to keep quiet through the whole process as to create the "best environment in which to welcome the child". Hmm, thats pleasant, however, let remember what it is...CHILDBIRTH. How the hell are you suppose to keep quiet when something that big comes out of your vagina? I am sure we are all deeply demented due to our mothers screaming during childbirth. Give me a break. Scream your head off Katie, and then sock Cruise in the face.

There must be fat in the water

Now answer me this, do you think it is scientifically possible to actually feel fatter after joining a gym, if the only thing that has changed is an increase in your physical activity? Well that answer to that would be a double YES. I joined a gym about 3 weeks ago and have been going about 4 times a week, all visits including at least 40 minutes of intense cardio....so why on earth do I feel like I have gained weight? Don't give me the whole "oh well youre gaining muscle" excuse, because who cares if I am if it is hidden under a layer of fat? Now I'd like to think I can be patient and wait for results, but I weighed myself this morning and I have gained a pound since I started the gym. This is bullshit. Luckily I actually enjoy the gym so I will keep going, plus there is that monthly bank deduction that is a good motivator, but at this point it's not going so well. The new Victoria's Secret Swim catalogs don't exactly help either, but do make for a nice dartboard background.

Something isn't right here

So I've been sucked into the world of Myspace.com, and my oh my what a world it is. So since Myspace seems to be frequented mainly by teenagers, these are most of the profiles I see. Now, I dont know what I was doing when I was 15, probably at dance class or something random and innocent, but dear lord these kids are so far beyond that. The further I went the more astounding it was. They have pics up of themselves half dressed in sexually suggestive poses, talking about sex, threesomes, oh and lets not forget all the "Im so wasted" pictures. Who are these kids? Why is innocence ending so early?

As I tried to get these images out of my head, I decided to look for a layout for my profile, so I visited all the myspace layout pages that Google came up with. There were a decent amount of premade profiles, but I couldn't help but notice the apparent theme in all of them. I would say out of all the profiles I looked at today, about 80% of them were dark, not just in color, but in tone...the kind of "dark" that could be coupled with drugs, suicide, and other things of that nature. Actually,there were quite a few that did have "suicide" or "blood" in their descriptions. What the hell is going on here? Is this really representative of the youth of today? I sure hope not. What a sad reality it would be to no longer have the carefree and innocent childhood that I had. I am so thankful for it... and so scared for these kids.

If this is "cool", then I'm proud to be a nerd.

Well I like to think I am up with the times, new trends, new hobbies, new whatever. I know that in the past year or so I've witnessed the return of knitting as a popular hobby, although as most you know it is now popular with young celebrities and young people in general. This was a little interesting to me, but not completely crazy I guess. I mean, I've knit before, I guess it was an ok time or whatever.

So the other night I am out at a pub in the Village and its packed and they are playing great music, the vibe is good, and I see this guy walk in, prob mid 20's, with a big thing of yarn and knitting needles. So, of course, I am thinking...there is no way this guy has come to this bar to knit...has he? Well I lost track of him for a while, becoming distracted with other things, but noticed him later on in the evening at a bar table standing with a girl, holding the yarn as she knit. They would take turns every like 15 min or so on who would knit and who would hold the yarn. I started to think that shot I took that tasted like suntan lotion was starting to mess with me, but I did in fact see was what was actually occuring.

Is this suppose to be a new pickup technique? Are guys changing from "...yea I can get you into this hot club" to "hey Ive got some yarn in my bag, wanna knit?". My my, the times they are a changin'.

Back

Where to even begin.

Well I am officially back in the U.S. after spending two months working for NBC in Italy for the Winter Games. Aside from the work experience (which of course was amazing), let's get to what you all really want to know about...all the shit that isnt work related. Let's break it down into a "learned in Torino" bulleted list.

Learned in Torino

• It is physically possible for me to work a 19 hour day
• I can get tired of pasta in about 4 days....I was there for 52
• I'm not at all as attracted to Italian men as I thought
• I can cross "sex in Italy" off my to do list- hey o!
• I am not Jewish, and therefore, undateable
• Nutella gelato makes all problems melt away
• Don't IM while intoxicated, even if it is 9:30am
• Bluntness goes a long way with men
• Some college kids are fun to hang with, others I want to punch in the face
• Mormon girls can be very naughty
• Hotdogs on a pizza is not a way to go
• Nice guys really do seem to finish last
• I am still hot for cute IT guys, what the f?
• The best way to enjoy drinks at a bar is not to have to pay for them
• Just because a guy is engaged does not mean he wont try to rub your leg
• Grappa is the equivalent of someone lighting a blowtorch down my throat and then punching me in the stomach
• People in their 30's can party like there's no tomorrow
• Kip from the Tonight Show is fucking crazy
• Im pretty sure Tom Green thinks Im in love with him
• I'm definitely not
• Downtown stores are mostly clothes shops for babies and lingerie boutiques...strange?
• Red wine in Torino doesn't stain my lips
• Italian laundry places staple a tag to every fucking piece of clothes you give them
• My potty mouth has evolved
• After 11pm, 15% of tv channels turn to porn

Of course all of these bullet points have a story behind them, and maybe one day when you are good I will share one or two with you. Until then, I am officially ready to enjoy this crazy city again and all the loveliness it has to offer.

As promised.....

Here is the link to my pictures on Flickr. I know I can get them up on my blog, I just haven't had time. I have the day off on Sunday so maybe next week I will be adding more, hopefully some fun pictures of Saturday night.

Enjoy!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/peaches206

Greetings from Torino!

Well I never thought the day would come that I didn't update this blog for almost 2 months. Shame on me, but at least I have a good excuse. Since then, pretty much TONS has been happening. Well there was of course Thanksgiving which went full swing right into finals when I got back to New York. Saying the 2 weeks before finals was hell is a huge understatement, but it all paid off and I finished the semester with a 3.8 - yay me. The rest of December was lovely because I spent it in Florida with my family. Nothing crazy on New Years, I decided to stay home with my family (its also my mom's bday) instead of going out this year.

I got back to NYC on the 3rd and 5 days later I was on a plane to Italy! I've only been here about 6 days but it feels like I have been here forever- in a good way. Working with NBC Olympics is so awesome and I get to see the true inner workings of everything that goes on. Plus I am lucky to be in the Venue Operations department, which gets clearance to a lot of places. Yesterday we spent the entire day in the Alps, taking tours of all the different venue sites. I think I took about 70 pictures, it was so beautiful. I'll be uploading them in the next couple of days.

Other than that Ive been working like crazy. I work about a 12 hour day and am so exhausted when I get back its crazy. I have a roommate at the media village where I am staying and she seems really cool. This is actually her third Olympics, lucky duck. Im hoping that means if I do my job well I will be back for the Beijing games.

Well back to work. Its about 7pm here right now and I am ready to go!
Talk to you all soon.