Crazy, Beautiful, Life

Okay... I'm  going to lay out the past week day by day for you, it was CRAZY to say the least. Please fasten your seat belts and prepare your emotions for a weeks worth of Blog posts in ONE.

Monday 10.24.11- 

      I don't think anything very significant happened on Monday, well at least not significant enough for me to remember. Other than the fact that I sent my name to letterman@fosterthepeople.com For a chance to win tickets to their live webcast performance at the David Letterman Show.

Tuesday 10.25.11-

      Had my first interview at Billabong Times Square at 11am and nailed it, and scheduled a second interview at Billabong Harold Square for Thursday. Went to class, took a nap, woke up to an email and WON tickets to see Foster The People live at Ed Sullivan Theater! Crapped my pants, because I have literally never won a contest or random drawing of any sort in my life, then went to yoga and relaxed to the max.

Wednesday 10.26.11-

      Took my Art History midterm at noon and KILLED it, I studied a lot for probably the first time in my life and it paid off because I had no hesitation taking the test, I find out what I got tomorrow in class! Then it was off to CBS studios to pick up my Foster The People Tickets! Quite an adventure let me tell you. So I get out of the subway at Columbus Circle and go completely the wrong direction, so as I'm standing on the corner trying to figure out where I'm at, and waiting for the Walk signal, I hear "Uh excuse me, miss? Could you help me cross the street?" from an ADORABLE little old man wearing khakis, a colorful plaid shirt, and a cardigan. So obbbbviously I say "Of course! I would be happy to!" So were literally walking at a turtle's pace across 57th St. and he says " So what's ya name? My name is John, I'm 90 years old, I'm goin to tha docta, where ya headed?" I respond " I'm Anna, and I'm headed to 57th and 10th to pick up some tickets" he responds, "Okay, me too." Long story short I'm pretty sure he was lost, I walked with him a couple more blocks, but then I had to let him go... we saw his neighbor while we were walking, so I don't think he lived too far away. Anyway, he was so adorable and it completely made my day to help him cross the street, and chat with him. Talk about being in the right place at the right time. Awesome.
      So, I eventually made it to CBS and picked up my tickets, then I was headed to The Waldorf Astoria to meet my Dad! Hop Stop failed me and I ended up taking the express train when I should have taken the Local and ended up at TimesSq, so I walked about 15 extra blocks and it took about 40 minutes longer than expected to get there.. but I got over it once I got to the Waldorf and saw my dad! We only hung out for a short time because I had to head back to school to get ready and meet up with Hayley to head over to Ed Sullivan Theater for the concert!
      So, Hales and I got to the theater and got a quick glimpse of Johnny Depp as he was leaving the Letterman show! Then we stood in line for about an hour an a half, and made friends with the cutest couple in front of us, their names were Mike and Ginger, stinkin' cute and funny I must add (and I had barely eaten anything all day and they gave me a piece of their pizza!)  So we finally got into the show and it was AMAZING. It only made me love them even more, agh I'm obesessed! After the show I seriously could barely move though. Me & Heels are NOT friends. I went home and passed out, I was exhausted  to say the least after a day of walking probably over 4 miles and experiencing so much life.

Letterman Show Stage

via iPhone

Thursday 10.27.11-

      Alright where to start. Had class in the morning from 9-12 then from 12:10-1 then I had my second interview at Billabong in Harold Square. It went really well and was very conversational, but I won't find out until next week. fingers were crossed.
      So, I came back to my dorm and attempted to study for my two tests the next day, didn't really happen though. Mom, and Aunt Jacquie, and (correction) COUSIN Christy ;) arrived around 2:30 and I packed a bag and headed to the Waldorf to meet up with them. So on the way to the hotel, my subway route was Take the 1 from 28th street to 42nd then transfer to the E and get off at 50th.... well due to a series of unfortunate events this did not happen. I had just walked all the way across the 42nd street station for my transfer and as I was walking down the steps to the platform of the E train, I heard a loud WHOOSH/BOOM, I was literally two steps away from the ground when horrified blank stares and screams filled the space-- a man had just jumped in front of the train only a couple feet behind me, the train screeched to a stop and NYPD arrived shortly after. I was dead in my tracks, but one lady who watched the whole thing happen ran up the stairs with a mortified expression and looked like she was going to throw up. All the people inside the train were stuck until the train lady manually unlocked one of the doors and they were all ushered out. I had no idea what to do or where to go, all I wanted to do was cry. I decided it would just be best to walk from 42nd St. (times square) since I did the same thing yesterday and knew where I was going. It was raining and windy and there were a million people everywhere and I walked so fast to that hotel trying not to cry. It was the most awful thing I have ever experienced, and I pray for that man and his family. I read in the news yesterday that he died.
      So, after I finally got to the hotel and vented to my mom and got a big hug I felt a little better and less shaken up. By that time it was about 5 o'clock and we all walked to Times Square and ate dinner at this fabulous place called Carmines. It was so so Good and I was so happy to be around family! The restaurant is all family style, so between the five of us we got Veal Marsala, Chicken Parmesan, and Spaghetti and Meatballs. SO GOOD. It was my first time trying veal, and it was delicious. After dinner we marveled at a less crowded Time Square and then headed to an Irish Pub I don't remember the name of. So many good conversations were had and then we returned to the Waldorf, and I took a fantastic shower, sans flip flops.

love all the chandeliers at Carmine's

das a good meatball

Friday 10.28.11-
      It was a beautiful morning and I took a cab back to school for my 9 am Intro to the Fashion Business class. After that I had to take a Statistics test, followed by an Advertising and Promotion midterm. barf. But It was a nice day out and I was looking forward to that evening!
      I got finished with my midterm by 3:45, and that class usually lasts until about 5:15 so that was exciting. Then I packed my bags and took an altogether different subway route to the Waldorf to meet back up with everyone. The day before I had mentioned that I always wanted to try Macaroons, so Lo and behold when I got to the hotel, there was a lovely sampling of French and American Macaroons. The American one's were good, but seemed so "American" compared to the French ones, which can induce internal "tingling".
      After a little happy hour of macaroons and Jim Beam, we headed down to Peir 17 to board the "Zephyr" to watch the Statue of Liberty's 125th birthday Fireworks. Talk about magical. It was such an American moment, I can't. We were standing on the roof of the ship sipping champagne while watching some of the most amazing fireworks shoot off around Lady Lib, while Neil Diamonds "Comin to America" and my personal favorite "Party in the USA" by Miley Cyrus blared from the speakers. It was a perfect moment. After that we got a little tipsy, ate many'a'tapas, and laughed until we cried. On the way home, George made it his mission to slap everyone on the back, call them "Hoss," and attempt to become friends with everyone on the subway.

French Macaroons, need I say more?

View of the Brooklyn Bridge from the Zeph.

merica.

tapas? 

Happy Birthday to you!

Saturday 10.29.11-

      Not so beautiful morning. It was a mix of freezing rain and snow. Everyone had different plans for the day, but first I attempted to show Aunt Jacquie and Christy my dorm....but by the time we got there I realized I had forgotten my key and ID back at the hotel. fail. So we just headed to the Chelsea Market instead. I love the Chelsea Market, it's so cute and smells like delicious food and has my favorite store, Anthropologie. We browsed some cute little stores, and Aunt Jac bought some realllllly good chocolate covered nuts, my favorite being Curried Coconut Cashews, say that 5 times fast. Then Dad, Christy, and Jac took a cab uptown so dad could watch the Nebraska Game at NYC's own Husker bar, The Irish Rogue, and Christy and Jac went to a broadway show! Me and Mom stayed and ate lunch at the Chelsea Market, we split seafood chowder and a turkey/avacado/pesto sandwhich. delish. We browsed Anthropologie then took a very neccessary cab ride to Macy's at Harold Square. Macy's was cuuuuhrazy. Mom got some new cute brown boots and I got a new Heavy duty winter coat! Very successful. Then, because of the lack of available cabs we walked all the way from 34th and 6th to 50th and park ave. and got some cute earmuffs on the way!
      That night for dinner we went to Bill's Gay 90's. No, we did not go to a 90's themed gay bar. It was actually 1890s. It was a dark, cute, little piano bar that had delicious food! According to Alan, a drunk Irishman that frequents Bill's Gay 90's quite often, it used to be Cary Grant's hang out back in the day. After dinner we all shared some fab desert, and accidentally let George out of sight, next thing we knew he was taking shots of Hennessy with Alan, then turned around with a beer in his hand. Oy vey. Then he went over to harass the piano man and we were left with the most gratifying quote of the trip, "Ow, Ya hurtin me." proving that no one on the East Coast actually enjoys getting called "Hoss" followed by a slap on the back. We left Bill's shortly after.

the view out from under my umbrella :(

Sunday 10.30.11-

      Mom, Jacquie, Christy, and I all headed for some bagels at a little shop then went back to the Hotel to finish packing up. We got some jewelry from a little shop at the Waldorf to remember our stay! Thanks Aunt Jacquie! I also got all the remnant metro cards, which will probably add up to about $30, and Christy got me a 30 day unlimited pass! Holla. Now I can go where ever I want for the rest of the semster, and probably next semester too! Then we all said our good byes and I headed back to reality...my dorm room. The rest of the day I did absolutely nothing and laid in bed all day. It was amazing.

the BATHROOM at the Waldorf.

main chandelier, a little blurry, but gorgeous none the less

annnd this is how Gorgeous it was the next day.

Monday10.31.11-

      I GOT A JOB! Billabong called and I am now officially employed! It's such a relief and I'll have some income in no time! Also it was halloween yesterday. I was a French Man, it was simple and easy and all I had to buy was a $5 beret, conveniently  from H&M. Hayley, Ashley and I went to the Halloween Parade, and I've got to say, it was somewhat lackluster. It was cold,, crowded, and it started an hour late. Not to mention the parade was just a bunch of people in costumes walking around. There was only one or two cool parts, these big skeletons and eyeballs. So we went and got some desert and headed back to the dorms to watch scary movies! We watched Paranormal Activity 2 and I crapped my pants yet again.

Lady Gaga, Frech Man, Capt. Hayley

buncha big eyeballs

a ton of cool huge skeletons

   

Holy moly. 

-AP