Spring is here!

I have been a very busy girl this past month, with either guests in town or a trip every weekend since March.  My first visitors were my cousin and his friend from college, who I traveled with to Chicago a few years ago.  We had a perfect Saturday, complete with a brunch at Calle Ocho that was to die for, a trip to the park where we took a nap in the grass while listening to some jazz musicians, and a night at the theatre where we saw “Sister Act.”  One of my favorite parts of the weekend was a trip to a very old bookstore on the Upper West Side.  It had one of those really tall ladders, and old used books everywhere you looked.  Books in front of books, shoved anywhere they would fit.  I ended up purchasing Edith Wharton’s “Summer”, because I remembered loving “Ethan Frome” in high school.  I also found an old airline ticket in the book, which my boss thinks is from the 70s.  Someone went from San Fran to NYC in a non-smoking seat, while reading this amazing book!

This past weekend I had the privilege of seeing two dear friends from middle/high school, and we followed a very similar agenda.  One difference was that we saw “Anything Goes” for only $22!  My wonderful roommate told me about this program called Hiptix, which allows people under the age of 35 to receive show discounts.  Never in my life have I heard of such a thing, but I will take it!  If anyone knows of any other discounts you can get between the ages of 35 and 50, please let me know.  We did try out a restaurant in my neighborhood that I had never been to before, called Chin Chin.  The food was spectacular, and our host’s name was Jimmy.  Actually, he was the manager and came around every ten minutes or so to make sure we were happy.  Although he was Chinese, he spoke with a heavy Jersey accent, which didn’t surface until later in the evening.  We loved our Jimmy.  He has been managing that restaurant for the last 25 years, and has put three daughters through college (one through Harvard) by working there.  I will definitely be back.

Last weekend was my very first trip to Washington D.C.  Since it’s only four hours away, it’s perfect to do in two days.  A friend of mine and I decided to go via bus.  There are multiple bus companies in New York who offer service there, and most are reasonably priced, but we selected Bolt Bus.  Occasionally they offer a $1 round fare ticket (at random, obviously), which we got because we ordered together.  Our round trip bus fare ended up being only $33 per person, and considering the fact that driving yourself would’ve cost gas and tolls, we were pretty happy with that.  The bus was perfect.  Wi-Fi is available, as well as outlets in the backs of each seat.  The bus driver even stopped half way through to let us all get off at a rest stop and grab dinner.

Saturday was spent walking…and walking…and walking some more.  Thankfully we stayed in Arlington, which is right across the bridge, because we were exhausted and ready to rest our weary legs fairly early.  We were there mainly to see the cherry blossoms, but were unfortunately about two weeks too late.  Most of them were already on the ground, as well as the tulips.  Regardless, at least we got to be there for the Cherry Blossom Festival, and had perfect weather.  We made visits to the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, Jefferson Memorial, MLK Memorial, the White House, the Treasury, the Aviation Museum, the Art Museum, and the National Archives.  Our lunch took place outside the Smithsonian Castle, on a playground.  As I sat at a picnic table eating my ham sandwich with chips on the actual sandwich (yes, I’m five when I eat), this elderly gentleman screamed across the yard “is that there sandwich better with the chips darlin’?”  Why yes sir, yes it is.  Arlington Cemetary, the Pentagon and the 9/11 Memorial were on Sunday.  All in all, a great time.

 Another Big Apple bucket list accomplished this week-The Tribeca Film Festival.  I have to be honest, I had no idea exactly what it was going into it.  A friend of mine picked the film based on the time and our availability.  It was a Turkish picture (do people still say “picture”?) entitled “Beyond the Hill.”  Our tickets were $25 each, and after our screening of this 90 minute “picture”, we were able to ask the director and two of the actors, who were in attendance, any question we wanted.  There were questions like “Can you speak to the role of women and the connection between the female characters and the goats?” and “What inspired you to utilize the Poplar tree as a symbol of the communities relationship to the military?”  All I wanted to ask was “Why wasn’t Ryan Gosling cast as Zulu?”

I’m quickly becoming a regular at Chelsea Piers, to take advantage of the early bird special at the driving range (which really isn’t a special at all, so much as it is a “get there immediately after work so you aren’t waiting two hours for a spot” thing.  I also have done fairly well at the bowling alley there recently, tying with an eight year old girl with a broken leg.  I keep waiting for a Groupon (obsessed) to come out since the range is around $35, but sadly, I have seen none.  I did, however, recently purchase a four hour baking class (cookies-my favorite), a hot stone massage, another dance class, and a boat cruise around the harbor.  I am halfway through my Krav Maga classes, and let me tell you, I don’t know how I’ve survived it.  During the last class, they had me sparring with a grown man.  He kept telling me to hit him harder, so when I did and missed the bag guarding his chest, he wasn’t the happiest with me.  However, I am now convinced I could kill someone with my elbow if necessary.

Finally, my acting submissions have paid off on Casting Networks, because I have been asked to audition for a small feature film called “Texas to Hollywood.”  If cast in this movie, I would be filming in Austin and Las Angeles for a few months during the summer.  This would require me to quit my job, which I am completely okay with.  Not because I don’t like it (because I do), but because who in their right mind would pass up such an opportunity.  Why not throw caution to the wind and act like a reckless, irresponsible human being?  I feel like this is just what I need in my life.  Plus, it would pay $500/day, which isn’t too shabby.  I’m not holding my breath, but I will give it my best shot.  A five minute comedic monologue…I think I can do that.

Sunday night I met a girl at an improv comedy club who is from Franklin, TN and in New York to pursue acting.  She is my age, and happens to be on this very plane I fly home to Atlanta on as I write this.  (See…New York is really a small town).  She has been here for four years, and is about to give up the dream and move home.  The city has been hard on her, as it is on many people.  I have not had the same experience, and for that I am grateful.  That is not to say I haven’t had bad days/weeks, and that there are times when I just want to start screaming at people on the sidewalk, or ripping out whatever wires make a car horn work.  But overall, I have felt welcomed, even embraced, here.  I predict that my day will come to head back down south once and for all, but until then, I plan to seize the day!