I Can Live Through This, I Can Live Through Worse

Each of these posts will have something Jim-related in them, to both remind me of my old buddy and to give him credit for giving me the idea. This is a picture Greta took of us at my going-away party at the Birmi in Melbourne. Jim is serenading me. Note: this was before I had to say goodbye to him and cried like a big fat loser.



Top 10 Things About Tuesday and Wednesday

1. Only losing my sense of direction four times (three of them in the middle of Manhattan). I can handle paying ridic data usage rates if it means I am never without Google Maps!
2. Getting asked for directions on Bedford Ave. It should be mentioned that this was during the non-Manhattan time I got lost.
3. Getting Aesop samples (incl one of my regular cleanser) from my boss. I was finally able to wash my hair and feel clean.
4. Finally meeting Alia and Nikol at Bar Matchless on Tuesday night. Alia used to work at Portable here, and Nikol was an awesome regular contributor to the site. Nikol took me to Khim's on our way home and I took far too long buying milk, cereal and fruit because of how overwhelming US brands are.
5. Catching my first subway (five of them, in fact!) without issue.
6. Getting my luggage on Wednesday morning! It came 45 minutes after I called the delivery company and I managed to haul my 30kg suitcase up the steep steps to my sublet. I'm so happy and clean and comfortable now that I'm dressed in my own clothes and surrounded by my stuff!
7. Meeting up with Dave—Anu and Maddi's friend from Melbourne—and eating vegetarian japanese food at Redbowl and taking iced coffees down to the Williamsburg Waterfront to look over the river at the city and talk about comedy.
8. Getting a little lost on the way home and stumbling upon Jimmy's Diner and taking home a Williamsburger (beef patty with two potato latkes and apple sauce) and sweet potato fries.
9. Meeting Anna* and going to Gowanus to the Sassy Tribute Night at Littlefield. Supercute! performed and there was an IRL 'Ask a Boy' and Elizabeth talked about Sassy fash and Marisa led a panel of Sassy ladies and Janeane Garofalo (AKA HEATHER FUCKING MOONEY AKA MY FAVOURITE CHARACTER FROM MY FAVOURITE MOVIE) judged a dude talent show and Ira Glass interviewed Tavi about her magazine project. I also got like 30% off a special cocktail for checking in on Foursquare and Anna took me to get my first New York slice afterwards. I know, right? Perfect.
10. Finding my way home. The G train wasn't running on our return trip, and after Anna got off at her stop I had to work shit out by myself. It took me twice as long because I got off too early and had to wait for another train. During that wait I saw my first subway rat and got a little homesick, but when I changed to the L at Union Square, there was a man singing "tha Chicago bluez" on the platform. It was almost 1am and it was the pick-me-up I needed to make me feel better about how unfamiliar everything is here.

*while I was waiting for her on Manhattan Ave I heard a dude say, "nice Mary-Janes, girl!" I thanked him for appreciating my frilly sock/school shoe combo, and noticed his teardrop tattoos and the garbage bag slung over his shoulder. Filled with body parts, perhaps, but game recognise game.