Birthday Weekend

Last weekend I celebrated my 24th birthday! I organized a brunch at Essex. After wards we went bar hopping in East village. I don't entirely remember which bars we went to but I did have a great time. The night before I went out to sushi with Olga and that was insane as well we met fun people at the restaurant and ended up having birthday champagne back at their place and then appearantly went dancing afterwards... I don't quite remember the dancing part of the night...

I hate to make a big deal out of my birthday. I think it is because I don't quite know how to handle attention. I don't like to plan big things because I then feel it is my obligation to make everyone have a great time. I would rather just randomly do stuff where there is no pressure to have a good time. I enjoy celebrating others birthdays but my own... I am still working on that.

Meetings

So I have come to realize why it is that after putting in a 60hour work week I only have about 20 hours of work to show for it: MEETINGS.

This week I have had over 10 meetings that I had to attend, all which took up mostly all of my days. Then I come back to the office and have to turn the items discussed at the meetings into reality; this usually happens outside the 8am - 5pm window. Its so interesting how people who are in the meetings with you all week will have the audacity to ask you if you have finished the thing asked of you at a previous meeting when they clearly have been with you the whole time since and know that you have not had the opportunity to even start on the task!

this is just me venting! Though today I got to meet with the CFO and CEO of our client. Had a little bit of sweaty palms for a couple minutes but got the results my boss was looking for so go me! Its awesome to have an opportunity to get to work with such higher up people being so new to this "working world".

back in the NYC

California was really nice! It was great to see my family! Though the whole trip was quite stressful and not at all a true vacation because the whole time I wanted to be at the beach sipping a margarita and sun bathing... but i did get to squeeze in seeing lots of people and even got to go to Ramona for one night! so all in all it was a fun trip!

The rest of the month is really busy lots of work stuff, fun stuff, and my birthday. I was thinking maybe a trip to Boston or a birthday brunch... i don't want to do anything crazy just enjoy the day!

They're Here!

They're here! This is crazy and still unreal! Aggie and Ewa have officially arrived in New York City with a ridiculous amount of baggage! I found them on the street corner yesterday and they were practically taking up the whole sidewalk! If you've ever been to NYC you know the people on the streets were NOT happy!

Today I fly back to Cali for the weekend to visit my parents. Also my godmother, her kids and my ciocia are visiting Cali from Polska so it will be nice to see them as well! My brother is picking me up from SNA and then we are going to Chronic Cantina to meet up with the boys. On Thursday I get to get my hair done by Dyanna! I am so excited to see her and I've been needing a haircut for the past 6-mo!

roller coaster

What a week... it sure had it's ups and downs. Yesterday I was prepared to quit my job but the second half of today has definitely made me realize that its all part of the learning process and I can't get frustrated once something goes wrong. 

I got to see the New York Phil Harmonic perform at the great lawn in Central Park followed by fireworks! AMAZING! i was very happy! I went with some people from work and we had a whole wine, cheese, and fruit party on our blankets, there is another one July 15th and I am already looking forward to it!

Today was the last game of the Spring Volley Ball season i have been playing all spring on the Jacobs Engineering team (my old company) we did OK overall we had a tough couple of games in the beginning but we pulled it through in the end. We won 2 out of 3 and I am looking into signing up for Zog sports for the summer season. it's a great way to meet fun people and get exercise!

Inspiration

K-Rad came to NYC for the weekend and has inspired me to write in my blog more often then I do... I am going to attempt at least 2 entries a week. One to sum up my weekend and one to sum up my week. So here's a shot at the first entry of the week...

Friday night the plan was to stay in and sleep... around midnight it turned into a bar hopping, beer and Jager bombing frenzy followed by spicy hiccup inducing falafal chow down for Konrad and then finishing up with a slumber party in my living room with a showing of "Blades of Glory." I now will have to invest in a copy of "Talledega Nights" for Konrad's next visit!

Saturday I experienced my first tanning session in central park with Renatka followed by drinks and chips & salsa on the upper east side. I was invited to a "Beer and Sausage Birthday Fest" to celebrate Konrad's and Marcin's (K.Rad's childhood friend) births! it was on Marcin's rooftop... my first rooftop party and it was a hit but then again mix beer, kielbasa and vodka and how can that not be fun?

Sunday I brunched it up with new friend Olga at Essex and walked around town and then just parked it on my couch and caught up with the Weeds season 3 and chowed down on Ice Cream and Guacamole... I don't think Sundays can get better then that! Oh and Olga and I have decided that we will have to start looking for dates through out the week in order to raise our new city adventure level! I'll let you know how that goes...

summer is ALREADY here!

I can't believe that Summer is practically here! So crazy to think that exactly one year ago i had just graduated college and was anticipating my move to New York City!! I have lived in NYC for 8 months already! And I am enjoying every minute of it! This week Aggie officially stated she is coming out to New York in July and looks like Ewcia is going to be joining her as they both venture out to find jobs in the city. I am so excited to be able to spend my summer with the girls from back home. There is so much to do in the city in the summer time! There are countless concerts in the park and also every once a week at Bryant park they show old movies! I can't wait to experience this with my good friends!

Mary, one of the roommies organized a girls brunch and movie in order to celebrate Sex and the City! It was definitely the best way to experience this fantastic movie. We all got dolled up and had brunch! After some eggs benedict and a few martini's we headed to the theatre and laughed and cried! Aggie and I used to watch whole seasons in one night so the 2.5 hours i sat at the theatres went by in a breeze! I loved it! I think now a days I appreciate any movie or TV show that accentuates the greatness of the city i live in!

The past couple weekends have been quite productive. I rode in the NY 5 Borough Bike Tour with my coworkers. soooo much fun! I kept up with the boys there was 7 of us, afterwards we all went out to stone street for brunch and beer. it was nice. This weekend did some aimless walking and drinking around the city and ventured out to Hoboken to celebrate Elas bday. it was nice to see the Jersey girls! Next weekend i am flying out to see Kasia and Aggie in San Francisco! I cannot wait! we are going to have such a great time. Sunday we are planning on attending the Bay to Breakers... i still have to figure out a costume! should be interesting!

Ewa and Sports

Ewcia is here! yay! she is here for her 2nd round job interview which i know she is going to totally get and then she will be moving here!

i have joined the softball team at the new job. And also have joined the Volleyball team at my old job. it should be a fun summer!

pope

I saw the pope cruising down 5th ave. this saturday! not as many people as i thought there would be. it was a beautiful day and i busted out the rollerblades and rode from my apartment to central park, watched a concert, rode around, watched some more concert (Matt Pond PA was playing) and then i rode back home. it felt so good to finally be able to wear shorts and a tank top again!

Urinals

I'm working toward getting my LEED AP (LEED AP = Leadership in energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional). While doing some research on a preject i discovered that one of the buildings we are constructing is using waterless urinals its pretty amazing! at first i was grossed out thinking about pee just sitting there and smelling but looks like they have it all figured out.

Next on my agenda: invent a waterless toilet that isn't an outhouse!

out of hibernation... hopefully

so when i last wrote that i was hibernating for the weekend i didn't realize it would be this long. but alas! spring has come and it is time to start writing again! 

The city is full of daffodils and tulips and pink trees! it is an amazing time to be in New York!! i haven't seen seasons change like this since i was 7! 

started working for a new company same boss mid march. lots and lots of work so i am keeping busy! VERY busy! no more googling through work all day! facebook and myspace are blocked as well so even if i had time i still can't explore other peoples happenings. 

More bad news... the love of my life Mr. Misiu my puppy has a perianal gland tumor  on his pupcia and had to get his juevos removed today! poor baby! i miss the little pooper and now he's never going to be the same dog!

hibernation

Taking it very mellow this weekend. Just hanging out around the apt and running a few errands here and there. Ewcia's return back home was sad! i love when people come visit but hate when it is time for them to go! I still have yet to get my parents their 25th anniversary present. i'm planning on getting them a his and hers massage in whistler when they go there for their celebration. I;m planning on buying a laundry hamper since i've been using my trader joe bags to store my laundry in. and i need a gym bag that i can take to work so i can go to the gym after without having to go home and change. 

Work is going fast and crazy i've been put on this challenging project that requires me to work directly with the office manager so lots of pressure there! but its exciting to be actually working and not googling all day!

The New Year

January so far has been a good month. I finally signed up for the gym and have been going regularly. Also since New Years Eve I haven’t gone out too much. I think of January as my recovery month from the craziness of the holidays. Right now I am eagerly awaiting Ewa’s arrival in New York, which is next weekend! I cant wait to see her and go off exploring BEAUTIFUL New York with her!

I am looking for a new hobby or activity that I can get involved in this year; haven’t really thought of anything great yet but am working on it.

This is a quote from “The Secret” it’s going to be my rule to live by for this year:

“Think of a car driving through the night. The headlights only go a hundred to two hundred feet forward, and you can make it all the way from California to New York driving through in the dark, because all you have to see is the next two hundred feet. And that's how life tends to unfold before us. If we just trust that the next two hundred feet will unfold after that, your life will keep unfolding. And it will eventually get you to the destination of whatever it is you truly want, because you want it.”

boys -> new years

The boys (Mariusz, Arek, Dawid, and Dominik) came and visited me a week before Christmas. What a weekend! Thursday night and Friday night were a blast. Then Friday at around 4am Arek got put into Jail and Mariusz had a bottle broken over his head! Crazy long story but in the end everyone is ok and Mariusz and Arek have to come back in March for their Court dates to resolve the whole thing!

Going back home for Christmas was amazing! Warm California sun and all the people I’ve missed! I couldn’t ask for a better holiday! It made me realize how much I miss it and all the people in it. It was really hard to leave. I got to go to Q’s, have a girls night out (Ewcia, Basia and Ania), went to Bodega, The Room, and the Beach. Saw two movies. Hung out with family for two days. And got to hang out with my mama all day on Wednesday after Xmas. It was so nice to relax and to see people I love!

New Years brought Ida and Hani to come visit me in NY. We did all the touristy stuff and we did lots of drinking to accompany all the touristy stuff. We had a really good time! We went to Azuki for free Saki and did a mimosa brunch at Benny’s burritos. And we ate pizza from Pizza Booth twice in one weekend! New Years Eve we went to Suzie Wong’s in Chelsea for their grand opening and took advantage of the open bar! Filip got sent home at 11:30 and at the stroke of midnight was walking home on the streets of NY. I on the other hand was standing at the bar and made out with some random guy (not too random, it was filip’s friend). Ended up being an early night due to all the drinking done the days before and the fact that my feet were killing me!

New Years Resolutions:
- Get Gym Pass and USE it
- Plan out meals for the week and spend less money on eating out
- SAVE SAVE SAVE (aka stop spending $$ on booze)

80's in SoHo

Since Filip's and Mike's Birthday is within a week of each other the boys decided to throw an 80's party! It was a blast! well at least from what I heard! I went to bed like two hours into it!! so sad but learned the next day that we had no lock on the bathroom door, all black floors, and i slept through 2 almost fights! Ela came and stayed until Monday we went out on Sunday and I felt like vomiting all over my keyboard the next day at work! granted the weekend was a blast!!

Paco!

We got a Christmas Tree!! All four of the roommates went out and picked out our very own christmas tree! It took a lot of time and lots of negotiating but we finally got 'Paco!' We then took it home and turned on the christmas carols and made hot chocolate and decorated the tree together. it was really fun and good for roommate bonding! We also decorated the crazy tree thats in the corner of the living room with lights.

Its Snowing!

So I woke up on Saturday morning looked out the window and it was snowing!! So exciting! Filip and I went out to birthday brunch and then hit up central park to see how beautiful it looks covered in white!

Tree Lighting

Filip, Kasia and I met up at my house after work and spiked our chai lattes with some Irish Whiskey and headed over to Rockeffeler Center. It was so crowded! we had to push our way forward just to get a glimpse of a part of the tree. Filip got into a confrontation with a lady that apparently had no christmas spirit and was just grumpy! We saw Celine Dion, Carrie Underwood and Josh Groben perform christmas songs! It was really cool! We ended up leaving like 40 minutes before they lit the tree because we didnt feel like standing around with 1000's of people for that much longer. Planning on going back to check it out all lit up pretty soon!

Thanksgiving Weekend

Filip invited my to spend Thanksgiving with him and his brother Adam's family in Lebanon, PA. It was so nice and relaxing! Their home was beautiful as well as their family. They have a 5 month old baby Tyler who is so precious! We just hung out on Wednesday night and on Thursday ate dinner around 3pm and after that watched football and kept going back for rounds with the food. We took a really nice stroll with the baby around the neighborhood. On Friday we ate more left overs and I went jogging around the area and then borrowed one of their bikes and rode around. It felt so good to be able to ride a bike, its been so long! 

Friday night I went back to the city and hung out with Konrad S. was in town for the weekend. We went to a couple speakeasies, which are prohibition bars that usually are very hidden and have secret entrances. The first one you enter through a phone booth and the second one was disguised as a toy company and served drinks in tea cups! 

Saturday I hung around the house and then went out to sushi and then to the Buddha Bar with Sylwia P. who was in town for the weekend as well with her friends from NC. It was really fun we had sushi

 and free Saki and then did some booty shaking at Buddha Bar. 

Sunday I went to the Farmers Market in Union Square and then walked around town and did some window shopping. It was really nice I just sipped on a peppermint Mocha and enjoyed the Christmas decor all around the city. I went to kosciol at St. Patricks and then checked out the Chri

stmas tree at Rockefeller Center which was still bare. All in all a nice relaxing day.