Week One

I love my job (I plan to say this a lot in the next few weeks while I still mean it).

Anyways, down to the gist. 

Week one, which was only two days really, was great. First of all, the familiar faces helped. 90% of last year's intern class returned to the company as full time hires, which is great cuz we all kinda know what we are doing. 

The real difference now is that this is the Real Deal. As I sat in the Benefits training session listening to Health Insurance, Life Insurance, 401-k and Retirement benefits, I realized that things have really changed: This is the rest of my life. Of course there will be other big events: marriage, kids, job changes, maybe more school, transfers, work in other countries, etc But this is Adulthood. The place I will be for the rest of my life. Pretty scary feeling.

Anyways, everything else was fun. We had a huge welcome party on Thursday. And I found out on Friday that my hour-long lunch break is enough to go home and take a nap and get back to work. How cool is that? Also, there's a tunnel that leads from the train station right to my office. Last summer I never took the time to explore the subway to find the entrance, although I wished i had every day it rained. I found it yesterday, and I'm really proud of myself. 

I featured in the company-wide newsletter!! Its a really big deal since the company has over 60,000 employees and they got to see my face and read about my summer experience. I felt like a huge rockstar. Also, I was invited to meet the interns and give them tips for doing well and securing a job. I guess I did something right last summer :)

And finally, I think I'm keeping my studio apartment. I had planned to trade it for a one-bedroom apartment because I want space and all that. Now, I think I'll put those extra dollars in a retirement fund or a savings account. Plus I have fallen in love with the place as it is. (I know, pics still coming soon)

Toodles!

Happy Birthday to me

Anyone who knows me well knows that I don't like to make a big fuss about my birthday.

On the other hand, it is almost an unforgivable sin to forget my birthday. I mean, just one day in a year to tell me I'm special, and you care and wish me well. Needless to say, a number of my really good friends forgot. And it hurt, cuz I'm extra-sensitive. (so, if you are one of them, I accepted your apology because I'm nice and I love you, but you really hurt my feelings)

NOW, on to my birthday weekend! It was F-U-N! Four of my really good friends came into town and we had a nice ladies' weekend. 

Friday (D-day) kicked off with a trip to the nail shop to get pampered for the day. 

P.S. I NEED one of those massaging chairs the use in those shops. They work wonders!!

Afterwards, we hurried to catch the Zephyr, our cruise boat for the night. We planned to have happy hour aboard while we cruised on the New York City coast and took in a tour of the city. But as with every beautiful plan, things did not quite play out like we planned. First it was raining (before  this second, I did not realize it actually rained on my birthday) and the cruise had been cancelled. Second, no one thought we should be informed. Luckily, the captain of another boat offered us complimentary tickets, with free champagne and seats in his cabin on top of the boat. #Winning! It turned out to be a really good ride. And then my nice Banker friends got us a table at Club Marquee and treated us to a great night.

Saturday was good too, especially since we slept through most of it. And then we toured the city a bit, got a nice dinner at Spice (where I got my cake and my birthday song ☺) and joined friends on a party bus that toured most of Manhattan, plus a few clubs. I'll just leave the rest of the tale with: there were two stripper poles on the bus.

Sunday: Goodbyes and Vintage shopping. I missed everyone the second I got back to my beautiful, empty apartment.

Before Day One...

First, I promise not to be away for so long ever again.

New York City has been fun. The 2 weeks before work started were truly awesome.

I spent the first week getting used to my new place, and setting up. Thanks to angels like my friend, Nifemi, who gave her time, and her ideas and her lovely blue car to help me with getting furniture and putting things together. Love you girl.

4th of July was interesting. I think I experienced my first case of New York City snobbery. Not a big deal really, but I should probably share... 

I thought I'd spend the day at a new friend's apartment watching the fireworks. We had spent time together earlier in the weekend and I mentioned it and got an invitation. We talked on Independence day and I was told that plans had changed and he would not be home all day so I made other arrangements. Imagine my surprise when a girlfriend called me up and asked me to join them for a fireworks viewing-party at his place that same night.... I wondered what the whole shadiness was about, but I haven't bothered to find out yet...

The rest of the week was uneventful. My apartment is set up (pics soon) and I think my home has found its 'chi' and it looks wonderful.