The Road Trip for A - Z

The Road-trip for A – Z

You’ll never believe where I am writing from, 34 000 feet above the united states of America on my way to cross over Finland and then traveling south to England. Unfortunately they have no internet wireless up here which I do not understand cause we’re closer to the satellites up here. Oh well, I will save, exit and send on arrival.

On the morning of Thursday 16 November I woke from a terrible sleep on an air mattress on Alice’s new Upper East Side apartment. It wouldn’t of been so bad if I hadn’t moved at all or I was a tube and was the same weight all over. Every time I moved my hips especially would sink quickly and SMASH onto the floor which hurt and made me wake. Then I would lie awake waiting for the fridge generator to stop humming for just a little bit. After a quick pack Alice and I headed down to the Grand Central Station to catch our train to White Plains. After an hour and a half Alice and I arrived at the desolate(?) ‘city’ of White Plains. We collected our car from the airport and began our journey. We headed West across New York State and North to Woodbury Commons, a high end fashion retail outlet complex. We arrived early and the place was almost empty. Alice and I have big expectations were slowly let down as we went into each department store and finding only small discounts, used items or just ugly cloths. We tried and tried to make the most of the Chloe, YSL, Gucci, Juicy Couture, Valentino, Missioni, TSL, Jimmy Choo etc stores but it was just useless. Alice and I finally left defeated without purchasing anything at all from the whole entire complex so headed to Walmart which we saw upon entering …



Walmart is amazing, we went to a superstore which included everything and a supermaket! It was equilivant of Kmart, Target, Coles, Woolworths, Farmland with more options and over the largest space. Alice and I tried to stick together but as I would be drawn to something across the way Alice would wander so we were constantly separately then reuniting when we were both drawn to the same thing, cheap nickers!!! We decided to buy some food and Alice thought it was so funny that I had 24 OZ of beef jerkey, carrots, prunes and “fibre plus” muslei bars. Alice then explained the lethal combination of prunes and fibre plus so I swapped them for some other ones. I didn’t realized they made you go to the bathroom a lot, I thought they were just healthy as they advertise fibre plus everywhere. So gross! We left with our bags and headed to Albany. As it started to get dark Alice and I decided we should find a place to rest at the next town. We pulled into a holiday Inn and asked how much a double room would cost, $149!!! We refused and were determined to find somewhere cheaper. Alice told Asheesh, her doctor friend in NYC who said he would help us find a nice safe cheap to stay. He booked us a room at the Holiday Inn in Albany, unfortunately Albany was a 3 hour drive from where we were and my poor map skills, the nighttime, tiredness and frustration kept leading Alice and I in and around, in and around Albany till finally after getting so 

The roadtrip

A white dove flew onto my window this morning...

 A white dove just flew on my window this morning and woke me up. I wonder what that means....

My last week has been very quiet and lonely. I have spent a lot of time by myself wondering around and occupying myself with my own hobbies.

On monday, I took myself to The Strand, the large antique bookstore to buy a travel book that would help Alice and I plan our journey to New Hampshire,  New England, Vermont, Mass, Connecticut and abouts next week. The strand didn't have anything so I twisted my way through Washington square where there was a base singer playing to his own beat. He was really good singing all kinds of classics. It was nice to see he wasn't in it for the money but instead the pleasure (including all the homeless and mentally insaaaane people that had gathered around and were  swinging their heads

 and clenching their lips to stop them bursting out in praise) of people listening to his music. As I passed through WS I was in the top of SOHO so I wandered around seeing if I could find something soft, my poor teeth, and cheap. I finally found a sushi parlour which was really nice, dark wood, soft lights, oriental music, just what I felt like. I had two sushi rolls, miso soup and half an orange for $5 ! Bargain. It was so lovely eating alone. After that I headed back up to union square where all the want-to-be-creatives are. People who try and be artistic but just look weird, a lot of NYU stu

dents. I saw this lady that had covered her entire face with blush. Yes blush. She looked like a 5 year old dressed up as a raspberry. Strange. I went into Barnes and noble and bought a Road Tripping USA book. 

I had interning again this week and it was same old same old. I  had to go to the Hearst Cooperation tower on Columbus Circle. It just so happen on that particular day I was lazy getting ready, I wore minimal makeup and a big t-shirt paired with oversize cardigan and jeans. A regular hobo. So I recognized the name when they told me where I was going but I couldn't put my finger on it, the Hearst tower is the

 most environmentally friendly building in NYC and it highly recognizable by its triangular structure.   I went into the beautiful cool foyer with the three storey waterfall with the escalators running up and down the middle and natural light streaming in from all sides. Not having a magnetic pass that all these beautiful and smartly dressed women had that they swiped their chanel, prada, fendi or LV bags across I hobbled up to the security desk. I said I was here to see someone on th

e 33rd floor to pick up some jewellery, they called me a "messenger" and pushed me off to the side entrance door. I asked again to go up to the 33rd floor but I was denied entry again because I didn't have a messenger pass. After talking to work I was to wait in the main foyer for a phone call which would allow me access upstairs. As I waited I saw many young and old fabulous people coming in. Many of the younger ones stopped and changed their shoes to skyhigh stilettoues and went upstairs. Finally my access was granted and the security and guards all wished me Goodluck as I asscended the escalors. Did they think I was going to a job interview or a model casting?! Craaazy, looking like that?! Damn~ The hearst building is home to Beautiful Living, Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, The Advocate, The Conneticut Post, The News Times,  A & E Networks, Cosmoploitan TV, Black Book, Electronic Engineers, Hire.com, ivillage inc just to name a few. So since I wasn't looking the part I decided to act it, I went to area of elevators 17 - 40 and waited with two smart looking girls. I looked for the Up button but I couldn't see it so presumed they'd obviously pressed it or you needed a pass. As I jumped in the elevator with them I turned to press the button "34" but there were no buttons in the elevator! Whoops. Finally we reached their stop and I built up the courage to ask how to get down a few levels. The secret was a key-pad. There was a key pad next to the elevators where you dialed the floor which you were heading and the computer would tell you what elevator you were to get onto. The elevator would then take you to your floor. Scary. I picked up my $15 000 diamond earrings from a girl 23 years of age, so jealous of her job and workplace!! The earrings look frightening similar to the ones Oli and I bought for Winnie at canal street all those years ago, and headed home. I now learnt my lesson in looking nice, I dressed up for the rest of the week but typically I wasn't sent anywhere special. Sigh. 

I have recently been trying to be healthy, not eating but physically and follow in mom's footsteps and walk to work. It is soooo much more interesting however the other day I was late so jumped on the subway and saw a man get chased and arrested. What people do not to pay the $2 metro card price. Although I am almost at that stage - it seems so much when you can just walk or ride a bike. I really want to get a bike, as I walk over williamsburg bridge 100's of bikes fly past, although I am jealous I am cold walking they must be freezing with that wind. On Tuesday as I walked to work I randomly looked up and saw a man washing the outside of his windows. This wouldn't be so amazing if he wasn't 10 stories high and had no visible signs of safety! I stopped and watched, no else saw him until I stopped and looked up and then quite the crowd gathered. It was scary, he was standing on a ledge about 1ft wide and was happily cleaning away. SCARY. I get scared going on the roof and there isn't any wind. The next day, it was cold so I wore all of my warm clothes, a cardigan under my leather jacket, i think I am going to die this winter. I was walking past the same intersection and a homeless man had fallen asleep in the middle of the walkway and two police officers were trying to move him out of the publics way. He was still asleep so they tried yelling at him to wake him up but he had fallen asleep on top of the subway vent (all the hot air from the subway line escapes up there - I guess he was warm throughout the night but deaf because the subways passing are soo loud). Eventually the police officers nudged him hard with their steel capped shoes which woke him and then they continued to yell... 

Tuesday night is sewing night which I was very excited for, I jumped on the subway and was taken back immediately by this man that had one eye, the other had literally been taken out of its socket and so he had this big whole, fortunately his eyelid covered most of it but there was still a cm of red nothingness pocking through. GROSSSSSS. That night at sewing I attempted to use a factory sewing machine. They are made completely out of metal so that they can run 24hr/7days a week and they go aaaalot faster. It was very hard to control, to gain maximum control of my machine I had to take my shoe off and show my halloween socks. Tehe. It made everyone laugh... at me =(. 

Like I said I have been trying to be a bit healthier and a bit fitter. My main motivation is not being the girl that went overseas and came back 10kg heavier. I refuse to be her and I am determined. I am not lookin

g forward to what my motivation will be like in a month when it gets soo cold. I am the only person running in leggings and tshirt, people are

already wearing vests, beanies an

d tracksuit pants. The idea of running with clothes on it so weird to me. One evening as I was returning from my run fireworks went off over the Brooklyn bridge, the williamsburg bridge is about 1km from it so I had a perfect view of manhattan, brooklyn and  the bridge. They looked so pretty especially reflecting off the glass facades of downtown and they were such awesome fireworks. It took me 10 minutes to run across the bridge and they were still going when I ran off the other side. Was quite the display, I think it may have been for the Jewish New Year. Last night I ran to Manhattan bridge about 100m short of brooklyn bridge but I did not want to push my knees - I self diagnosed myself with patella tendentious. I am really upset about it but as there is nothing you can do I will just run through the stabbing pain. On that run I saw the New York waterfalls. I only saw two but there are 4 waterfalls funded by the The Public Art Fund ranging 90-120ft costing $9-10 million dollars. The point of them are the raise money but they also double as filters for the east river and generating electricity. I do not find them particulary amazing, I have only seen them at night and they look like water being spurted out of scaffolding...

I think that is all the news I have. I am completely and utterly depressed by the stock market at the moment. I want to cry, my zero money has turned into negatives. I went out once last week and I met these 4 austr

alian blokes who loved talking to another australia and me likewise. One had worked for the lehman brothers and another got layed of the day before because 20% of his company was owned by them. It is all such a shame... for me. Joking. Everyone is suffering. I think working in medicine and food is the way to go, everyone gets sick and injured and everyone needs to eat... 

Well I have been trying to rent out my room for the last week, it is really tedious having people coming in and out of my room and I am determined to get rid of it TODAY ! Fingers crossed. 

Well I hope you're all enjoying the hot weather, I am so jealous. I want to be at the beach, sunbaking by the pool or eating fresh fruit and lemonade. Yum delicious. I miss the food of home. I leave for work 15 minutes earlier than I usually do so I can go to this supermarket in lower SOHO called gourmet garage so I can buy a 60c bagel and $2.99 caesar salad (no meat) and a piece of fruit for lunch. All under $5. I am such a bargain hunter but I secretly want to go to Peter Lugars Steak House which I run past, mmm steak, mashed potato and a vino.

... xxx m

This is a gallery that I came across when walking to a cocktail bar with Chelsey. It was cut-outs in a tiny space. The debate was shown.
We also saw the filming of Gossip Girl.

"If I were rich I would wake up to a pomegranite cocktail"

Living in brooklyn is always entertaining but it has its up and downs. When bored I can walk around the area and imagine living the lives all the weird people living around me.
I ventured one block south looking for a fabric store and found myself in the middle of ascetic jewish community. It was so insane that I snuck out my camera facing the wall and snapped a few photos of the villagers around me, I am not too sure about their whole religion but I tried to conceal taking photographs. I left their quickly and headed down to brooklyn.

There it changed again to the ghetto hoochie - skinny jeans, diamonte belts, nike air's for girls and oversized jeans and shirts for guys and glittering belt buckles. I did not really fit in with my blonde hair, neither did this other white guy which is probably why he started talking to me. Well actually other way around. I went into a drapery store still looking for a fabric store and asked this man if he knew where it was. He didn't but walked me to the door asking questions why I needed fabric. As I got to the door I thanked him for his help and walked out, he followed STILL talking. When I asked whether he worked there he said no but instead he owns a shoe brand that sells at Bergdoff Goodman. Jealous. He then tried to compliment me by saying "you look like a designer" so I left. Strange man. My day finally ended when I went to 'Mood' some may recognize this name from Project Runway and bought a cute light cotten fabric to go with my 60's style dress. I think it will turn out quite nice, even though it is semi-transparent.
On Tuesday we had our second Pratt lesson. People's personalities are starting to come out and some people are soooo annoying. This one girl particulary thinks she is really funny, really nice, clever and stylish. I personally she is none. She makes a comment to almost everything the teacher says but the teacher is always so nice that she never says anything and returns a friendly comment. So we "passed-the-pattern" and pulled out our material we could get an idea of what everyone else was making. Now I thank mom again, I have always had problems choosing a pattern because they always look so dull, however mom always said it was the material that made it interesting, hence my cute floral cotton. Most people got plain, plain, PLAIN colours, literally just green cotton, a blue pinstripe woven, a purple silk no wonder everyone commented on my cute pretty fabric. Oh well I just hope mine turns out and I do not chew my words. Because of this jeering girl it took us 3 hours to cut out our patterns, learn about the names of threads in a woven, how to lay your pattern on your fabric and cutting it out. I got home at 10 to a beautiful cous cous, lettuce and balsamic salad. mmm tasty?!
If you head north from my living area you get into the tattoo territory, every body has tattoos and none of them look good. I guess that is why I do not fit in there. On my way up to brooklyn to raid my favorite store, we also have them in Australia, The Salvation Army ($3 cardigans!!!) , and it was hot and humid. My legs were sticking together as my thighs passed, the whole of Brooklyn had an aroma of BO and my hair was curly. As I walked around I almost gagged the whole group of average size African American girls had tied up their shirts to expose their wobbling, jiggling, swishing, bouncing, fat stomachs to the world. SOOO gross and who let them do that? What reflection did they walk past that made that 4 inches of overflowing fat on their low hipster jeans made them think that it was appropriate and okay to show that flesh. Gross...

Now that fall is here the weather, especially to me has gotten a lot colder,  I have tried to stay warm but these $3 cardigans do not provide much shelter from the wind. I was walking across the Williamsburg Bridge after work when it was drizzling and windy. The wind swept up the 

So my weekends lately have been very low key, Chelsey and I have been lazy Brooklyn girls going out in the neighborhood and going out only consists of a cocktail at a bar. If I were rich I would wake up to a pomegranate cocktail every morning. So delicious, personal favorite (of atmit - oli remember? ). So I have had one or two dinners our locally including five leaves which was a restaurant that Hieth Ledger invested in, it was sweet and dainty.

Last Sunday Alice and I decided to go to the zoo. After a miscommunication, taking an hour, Alice waiting underground at the station and me above the station we finally headed up to Brooklyn Zoo. The weather was wet and humid and the grey skies must of turned off the casual tourist. Alice and I went in and spent a whole 6 hours there, alone. The only enclosure that we saw other people was the lion and the safari. It was a beauitiful zoo- so spacious and the monorail that imitated a safari was so fun. We passed through the lioness's cage and the driver made special note to keep all heads and all limbs inside the carriage as we passed. Freaky. Because I am the smartest cookie in the bunch I wore my $10 shoes that have turned from black to a dark olive green, after a day of walking in these soggy numbers my entire foot looked like it had been soaked in a bath for 6 hours and was stained black... Fiiiilthy. 

Last week at work, nothing much happened except it was decided that the $25 000 earrings that went missing have officially been lost. It was all tense at work because the lady at vogue who packed the jewellery said she sent them but Austin the girl at work, but Austin never received them. That left me to have taken them in transit. Luckily it was on video tape that the bag was sealed and when those security bags are sealed they cannot be opened. I am surprised Austin did not get fired as $25 000 is her whole salary!! and mine combined for that. Tehe. 

Yesterday Alice and I met Jo for lunch at the Astoria, we were walking to the restaurant when Alice and I explained how glamourous this lady looked walking in our direction, she wore a fitted, long winter coat, 4" heels, big sunglasses, a big bag and red lipstick. Alice quickly realized it was joe, we greeted then sat down for ice tea and salad and talked about all of our sisters and what each is up to. She was very interested in what everyone was doing and glad to hear we're all well. After dinner Alice and I went to her apartment and roamed downtown. Now there is somewhere I know better than alice!!