Needle in a haystack?

Although New York is a huge place, there are things that make it seem small. One thing I have noticed is that New Yorkers are creatures of habit. I usually go to Bryant Park and sit outside during lunch. Sometimes I bring it, sometimes I buy it and usually I have a book or a friend, but it's a part of my day that I look forward to being outside for about an hour instead of in the office. Interestingly enough, I almost always see this one man. He is dressed for work, so I don't think he lives there, but he is usually reading by himself. The reason I find it strange that I always see this one man is because I don't always go to lunch at the same time and I don't always sit in the same place.

I think most people tend to have a routine. Most people have their favorite bagel or coffee shop. Most people get their newspaper from the same person or walk the same way to the subway each morning. But, despite the fact that people tend to search for sameness, they are very adaptable. In New York, you learn to expect the unexpected. The day you are running late, the train will make you later. It will rain hard on the days that it's supposed to be only a 40% chance of rain. Just when you think you're having an easy morning, there will be a terrorism drill blocking the entrance of your building.

Then there are the days when you look at all of the people. The people on the subways, in the streets, in cabs, in buildings and you realize how small and insignificant your life is in the grand scheme of things. The majority of the people I run into seem to have a purpose, have drive and go about their day as if it is more important than anything else. New York has this amazing energy that people talk about all the time. What is it about New York that drives people to succeed even though you are literally one in a million?

Vault

I have been feeling a little old lately, being in my late 20's and all but apparently I am still cool in my choice of softdrink.  Today, I picked up a Vault (Drinks like a soda, kicks like an energy drink) and these young skateboarder type kids commented as I walked by - NICE choice!  Apparently they "snatch one up on a daily basis"...  We chatted about why this was better than Mountain Dew and why it was also better than Red Bull.  I think they were impressed by my knowledge and wisdom in the matter...haha, not!  Anyway, maybe you had to be there, but I just thought it was too funny not to share.

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Vanity Sizing

I saw this article this morning and decided that I wanted to blog about it because I am thinking about what type of clothing I want to design.  I have to really think about what I want my brand to say to people. 

Why is America obsessed with weight?  We are all obsessed with these anorexic celebrities, yet our population is like 60% obese.  It’s quite interesting to me.  It’s like the more obsessed we become, the fatter our nation grows.    Anyway, I just wanted to know, would you prefer to buy an item of clothing based on the size or the consistency?  [Translation: Would you rather buy a size 2 because you “can” or would you rather know that a brand remains consistent and that you will have to buy a size up or down depending on how it fits and whether your weight is up or down at the moment?] 

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Hard head

Today I am grateful for my hard noggin. I had the craziest experience on the way to work - I was just walking along about 3 blocks away from my house on the way to the train and this man, who looked like he could have been homeless, was walking towards me and as he passed, he popped me upside my head! Just out of the blue! I am guessing he was either high or crazy because, seriously – who does that?

All I did was yell at him as he ran away. There were people around me who asked me if I was ok. I called Kijuana and started to cry of course and then called 311 (the non-emergency number) and they transferred me to the police station. I told them what happened and they wanted me to fill out a police report and all that and I didn’t have time to wait for them to get their just so that nothing would be done about it. I wasn’t hurt, just shaken up. I remember looking back at him and he had a nub for a hand! I got punched by a nub! Or is it knub? There is a part of me that wishes I would have chased after him, but it wouldn’t have been worth it to get beat up!
It kind of feels like a dream. If I could do it all over again, I probably would have yelled to the people down the street to grab him, some hunky guy would have tackled him, I would have called the police immediately and he would have been arrested…kinda like a movie except in real life. I am just glad that I wasn’t injured or killed.

In retrospect, I need to be more prepared in my responses and I need to stay away from homeless men with nubs.

My lovely mullet

I can finally talk about it, therefore I must blog about it. Last Wednesday, I went to get my hair trimmed (which apparently you have to define nowadays when you want less than 5 inches cut off). The woman who cut my hair is at a Brooklyn salon, has cut my hair before, and is supposed to be especially good for curly hair.

I went in and she started snipping away. Unbeknownst to me, my hair was being rapidly depleted while I sat in the chair thinking of how cute I was going to look. She finished cutting (my hair has to be cut dry) and then proceeds to add a little color to the roots for a touch up. As the color is getting washed out I am chillin' and thinking about what to eat for dinner. I go back to the salon chair and glance in the mirror as I am running my fingers through my hair. At that moment I realized that there isn't a lot there to run through...on top. I feel the back and yes there is still some length. I guess I must have looked a bit worried, so she said, let me style it for you.

So, again, I left her to her "magic" and didn't say anything as she blow dried my piece.
Not really sure the look she was going for. Perhaps a girl version of this frolet?

When she finished "styling" I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Still not sure. But, I think my face said enough. She said, next time, I won't layer it so much.

I said ok, paid and left.

Now it's too late to go back. I punked out. I actually paid for someone to give me a mullet. Who am I and what have I become?

I went home and literally cut 3 inches off the back. (Of course I left the sides and top) I am still trimming as I go and waiting until it gets a bit longer to get it cut again, but now I am scared. (Kelly, Jenna, or Rachel - I need you!) There aren't that many ways I can style it now because I can't fit it in a pony tail and it's too humid to blow dry it straight because it would just curl up again. So much for growing my hair out.

You won' t be seeing pictures of me anytime soon, so please cherish the ones you have, but I will be following these tips.

Word to the wise: bring pictures next time you go to your stylist. Even if you trust him or her.

My crazy neighbor

A few weeks ago, one of my classmates was at my apartment and we decided to make dinner. Well, we needed 2 pans, but of course I only had one small pan, so I thought, this is a good way to get to know my neighbor. It was the middle of the week, around 8pm, so I figured that someone should be home. I knocked on all of the doors on my floor...nobody answered. I then proceeded to go up one level and knock on a few doors on the fifth floor. I was getting ready to just go out and buy a pan when the final door I knocked on I heard a faint "hello"...

"Hi, this is Kamilah, I live on the 4th floor and I was wondering if I could borrow a pan," I yelled through the door. I hear all sorts of shuffling around. He opens the door. It's an older gentleman in his late 60's or 70's probably. I repeated my speech and he says just a minute and closes the door partway and disappears. I peaked into the apartment and am literally floored. Years and years of paperwork, nicknacks, junk, etc cover practically every inch of the apartment from floor to ceiling. All the shuffling I heard was him having to maneuver stacks of crap so he could open the door and move around the apartment. I hear all sorts of noises as he is rumbling around the apartment. A good 2 or 3 minutes later he comes back and he is carring a ballpoint pen!

Oops. Some sort of communication breakdown. I said, "Oh I am sorry, I guess you didn't hear me, I need a frying pan." At this point, he is sweating and just shakes his head and closes the door.

New York can be a very isolating city if you let it. It looked like years and years of accumulation and him not throwing anything away and also him running out of space. How does it get that bad? I can't imagine living like that!

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The Devil Wears Prada

I hope that everyone had a great holiday weekend. It was strange, yet nice to have a day off during the week and I am so happy that it's already Friday!

On Monday night I went with 5 of my Parsons classmates to see The Devil Wears Prada. Funny movie if you haven't seen it.

As you know, the movie is based on the book written by Anna Wintour's old assistant. According to some reports, "Anna Wintour isn't taking The Devil Wears Prada movie sitting down — at least not in an ergonomically correct throne. She's warning fashionistas and actors that any involvement in the Meryl Streep movie will make them invisible in the eyes of Vogue. Unless they're fat, and in that case they should've given up hope long ago. [Radar]"

Now, that is just a rumor, but if you have seen the movie, pehaps you may have noticed that the clothes weren't ALL fabulous. They were good, just not GREAT. So, I guess her threat worked! I mean she's Anna Wintour, the diva of all fashionistas - she can do that.
(Jossip)

Here are some thoughts that we discussed after the movie:

• Can a woman have it all?
• Can you have a thriving career and a balanced family life?
• Do you have to settle for mediocrity in family and career instead of excelling in one?
• If this were a man, would there be any hype?

I am pretty sure that something has to give. You can't give ALL your time to both entitites. In that case, how do you choose without feeling guilty. If you decide to stay home and be a full-time mom, is it a waste of money and years studying? If you decide to devote yourself to your career, what happens when you get old?

It's a juggling act that I don't profess to know the answer to. As my mom said, if you just continue to make choices along the way that you are comfortable with, everything else will work out.

More random photographs

I am still looking for a new camera, but for now, I rely on pictures from other people, my cameraphone, or my palm. Here are some pictures that I finally had time to download from my palm.

Here is a picture of Pepper and Archie at the Mets game when we went a few weeks ago.

Don't ask. It was there, I had to stand behind it.

This picture doesn't really do the scene justice, but one day, Pepper and I were returning back to work after lunch and we saw both sides of the street lined with cop cars while a procession of cop cars drove down the street. In DC I was used to seeing the presidential procession all the time, but this was different. There were so many lights! I felt like a tourist, but I had to take a picture.

We found out later that they were doing a terrorism drill. It was so extreme!

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Day in Central Park

On Saturday, it was a beautiful day and my friend Angela and I decided to head to Central Park. We went there to watch Shakespeare in the park, but couldn't find the outdoor theater, so we walked around, looked at all the people sunbathing, and just had a nice time outside. Later we met up with our friend, Regine and ate delicious ice cream. Perfect end to the day!

Ways to Quit a Job

This week I had the opportunity to witness a coworker of mine quit his job via an email.  Although, with technology these days, do you think it's appropriate?  I think it's still customary to speak to the person face to face, but hey to each his own.  This person, whom shall remain nameless, sent an email to my boss on Friday on his way to the airport for a vacation to Europe for 2 weeks.  This person has been with the company for 12 years! Anyway, I just thought it was quite interesting and somewhat humorous.  It got me thinking about the ways people quit a job.

My personal favorite is when I was working in Provo at a crazy telemarketing firm and I had Cathy call in and quit for me.  [I had only worked there for a few days and it was really awful, so give me a break.]  When they asked her (pretending to be me) the reason for the resignation, she said, "Um, I just don't want to work there anymore."  Meanwhile I am in the background dying of laughter. 

My second favorite is when I was telling the story about my co-worker to a friend, she said that she quit via fax once.  Apparently there were "extenuating circumstances", but I still think that's a pretty funny way to quit a job.

My third and final story is when I was in middle school, I got a job as a "sweeper" at a nearby elementary school.  For those of you who don't know what that is, it's basically a jr. janitor.  I had to vacuum the classrooms and clean the bathrooms.  It was torture, but it was the only job that I could do that was right near the school and would pay me minimum wage and only a few hours after school each day.  Well, one day I used the wrong cleaning agent on the toilets and I stained them brown!  So, I got real nervous and just never went back!

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Bradford and Shilpa's "Green" Party

I forgot to post these pictures. They are from a few weeks ago at a birthday party for two of my Parsons classmates. It was at this great restaurant with an outdoor patio, and the weather was perfect. I didn't stay very long, so here are the pictures when it was still really tame. (apparently things got a little out of hand later on...)

Bradford and Shilpa - and their matching eye liner

Bradford and Ben

Some of Bradford's friends

The ladies: Angela, Shilpa, Regine, me

Throwing Bradford in the mix

The Parsons gang

Post about "I"

Feel free to copy and past your own phrases, it's fun!

I am: always looking for the next challenge.
I want: to have my cake and eat it too.

I have: so many things to be grateful for.
I wish: for a happy, healthy life.
I hate: ingnorance.
I miss: hearing Devon talking and Nate babbling.
I hear: the sounds of the city from the 30th Floor.
I wonder: why there is so much injustice in the world.
I regret: not spending enough time with my family.
I am not: patient enough.
I dance: at random times, when I hear good music.
I sing: in the shower sometimes.
I cry: at things that touch my heart.
I am not always: the person that I want to become.
I make: the designs that are in my head come to life.
I write: in my blog about my life in New York City.
I confuse: my priorities sometimes.
I need: to remember that God is really in charge of my life and to let Him lead more often.
I should: work out more and eat less treats.
I start: more things that I can finish.
I finish: the things that really matter.

Random photos

I was cleaning up my work files and ran across these random photos, so I decided to just post them!

Here is a big wheel truck. I couldn't believe the tires were soo big! (In AZ)

Just in case you thought that I had lost my fun ways and didn't like to play dress up anymore - here is proof. This from a friend in my ward (church group)'s birthday party. She had a dress up box with a photo station (like in Napolean Dynamite)
[It was actually really hilarious.]

It's really hard to imagine that it was ever cold, because it's been so hot, but here is proof that it was. We went on a Free Carriage Ride around Central Park and then we went to brunch at Sarabeths which is amazing. Can't wait to go back. Glad it's no longer freezing cold.

What a fun weekend! On Friday night I went with my friends, Regine, Angela, Pepper, and Archie to the ballet. It was really nice. It was a small intimate venue and the dancers were really talented. (http://www.stankovicballet.com/)
On Saturday, I spent the majority of the day out and about, running errands and such - enjoying the beautiful weather.

On Sunday after church I went to see Gladys Knight perform at my church. All I can say is WOW! Seeing and hearing her live is truly amazing. (http://www.suvchoir.org/index.html) For those of you who haven't had the opportunity to hear her - buy this cd. It is truly inspiring!

Summer, summer, summertime...

I just got really excited for summer. Maybe it was a dose of the Arizona heat, but there are so many concerts/performances/etc in the city that are FREE! Obviously there are just as many if not more that are very expensive, but there are definitely ways to have fun and not be broke. Yesterday I put all of the fun summer events in my calendar and now it appears that I have an extremely busy/full summer ahead. I love Summer and I love Free. My plan is do as much as I can this summer on as small of a budget as I can. This is no task for the weary, but I am up for the challenge. Luckily for me, my friend Pepper isn't working yet and has volunteered to be the official event coordinator for the summer. It will probably be my last summer of somewhat freedom, so I want to live it up!

So, here’s to summer lovin’, sweaty concerts, ice cream in central park, and snow cones in new york city…

Arizona

What a weekend! I had some crazy travel experiences, but of course it was worth it to get to hang with my mom and Corban.

Quick recap: Left my house at 5am on Friday morning. My flight was supposed to take off at 6:50am, but there was some mechanical difficulties. After being shuffled to 3 different flights, I was finally re-booked on a flight through Atlanta that would put me into Phoenix at 2:15pm instead of 10:30am. 4 hours lost! But, it wasn’t horrible, just a really long morning.

When I arrived in Phoenix, of course my luggage didn’t arrive with me, so I filed a missing luggage report and it was supposed to be delivered by 7pm.
Since I didn't have any clothes, we decided to beat the heat and go straight from the airport to the movies.

[We saw Akeelah and the Bee. Such a cute movie, if you haven't seen it - put in on your must rent list.]

After the movie we went to go and see Corban hard at work and also shopping at Last Chance. He is working as a valet attendant and loves making tips, although he gets really hot and dehydrated being out in the sun.

After seeing my brother, we went to eat at this fabulous Mexican restaurant. The most delicious chimichangas....and chips and salsa...yum! I LOVE Mexican food and Arizona has some of the best that I know of. By this time, it was close to 10pm and still no word on the luggage. So, I was on the phone with Delta and wouldn’t let them get off the phone with me until they found my luggage and promised me a time. I was so tired and so frustrated, all I wanted was some clean clothes. A lot of good it did, because I didn’t get my luggage until 5pm on Saturday night! Don’t worry about the fact that I had to wear the same outfit 2 days in a row in 110 degree heat. Oh well.


Saturday morning, we met my Aunt Barbara for lunch at Rosita’s

(I had to make sure and get my fill of Mexican food) and then did some more shopping – had to get a swimming suit and some underwear…and then my mom and I got facials.
They were fantastic. It was at the Aveda Institute and so they are students but they use all Aveda products and it was like an hour and a half long. So great and so inexpensive. They have one in NY so you bet I will be there once a month :)

Here is when my bag arrived. I was clearly so excited.

Later that night, my cousins Emily & Mike, Shar, and Tiffani and my Aunt Karine and Uncle Gordon came over to my mom’s and we swam and ate dinner and Shar and Tiffany stayed and talked until midnight. It was fun. I realize how much I miss hanging out with family – reminiscing on our childhood. It was so fun to see you guys! Come to New York to visit soon!!

On Sunday, we ate delicious breakfast at the Pancake house and then went to church. After church my mom and I got pedicures and then we came home – barbequed some chicken and pineapple on the grill and played Boggle. After I schooled Corban and mom, I had to pack up and get ready to go. (Yes, I was the champ!)
I took the red-eye flight and got in just in time to go to work! Now, I am sooo tired and can't hardly wait to go home and go to sleep. I don't know why I do these types of things to myself!

But, it was a busy, fun weekend! I miss my mom and Corban already!!! Thanks again for everything!

Excuse my one curl in my forehead...

Saying goodbye!

Product Endorsement - Mr. Clean Magic Eraser

I must say this product is, well...magical! My mom told me about it a few weeks ago and I must say, Becky knows best in this instance.

Yesterday, I came home from work and decided to do some cleaning. So, I got out the magic eraser expecting to have to scrub and scrub. I truly have no idea what is in that little sponge, but it really works. Just wipe and the dirt is gone. I had some molding spots in the shower that I tried to get up with Clorox and it didn't work...until the magic eraser came along. It doesn't smell, doesn't ruin your nails, just erase and go. My only complaint was that it didn't last very long, but then again, I cleaned quite a few surfaces.

I secretly want to go home from work early so I can finish cleaning the rest of my crib.

It is amazing! If you don't want to belive me, see what others have to say: http://www.sptimes.com/2004/07/24/Homes/A_hand_for_Mr_Clean.shtml

http://housekeeping.about.com/od/productreviews/gr/mrcleanmagicer.htm


You can request a free sample here: http://www.startsampling.com/sm/5161/captureAddress.iphtml

Happy Mr. Cleaning! The crowd seems to love this.

Bermuda

Aah...the blue skies, beautiful water, gorgeous beach...my friend Jenna gets to have it all at her doorstep. She is moving to Bermuda!!! I am so excited for her, but even more excited to come and visit. She is such a talented hair stylists and found a fabulous salon to work at.

Here are a few photos from the last time she was in Bermuda by way of New York City.


Meeting Luigi from Mario Brothers in Little Italy


Jenna me and Rachel - out on the town in NYC.


Me and Jenna acting crazy.

Jenna, I am so happy for you and can't wait to see you in Bermuda!!!

"If you choose to not wear deodorant, do not stand by me!"

I am thinking of making this saying into a t-shirt and wearing it every morning on the subway. For some reason, I have been cursed to have the smelliest rides this week.
I can attribute it to several factors:

• it is summertime, so there are a lot of extra tourists which in turn make the subways more crowded
• there is a lot of track work going on. I ride the 4/5 line and there are delays and again, extra crowding occurs
• it's getting hot outside, so people are sweating more

Am I a magnet for stinky men or bad-breathed women? I would venture to say that at LEAST 80% of the people that ride the subways in the morning are going to work - do these people not groom themselves? I can't imagine having to work all day with a stinky sir or ma'am.

Anyway, a bit of advice - please, if you are going to be in close proximity with other people, as in a crowded subway ride, just take a shower, put on deodorant, or do something to cover up the body odor that nobody wants to smell!

Cliches

Sara (aka S-thang) and her sisters (Melissa and Katie) started quoting cliches to one another and somehow Sara roped me into their sick little game and I in turn enlisted my sister, Kijuana. Where did cliches originate from? Who thought they were ok anyway? Well, somehow through the years, we all grew up saying them or hearing other people say them, so I thought I would do a post about it.

Here is the grand list of all the cliches that we sent back and forth to one another. Feel free to add your own and laugh (outloud) at some of them.

To know me is to love me
On top of the world
Bloom where you are planted
Life's a bowl of cherries
If worst comes to worst
Two peas in a pod
Toss your cookies
Old as dirt
Over the hill
To see eye to eye
Sounds like a plan
That's the ticket
it takes one to know one
Cool as a fan
Waste not, want not (you may enjoy that one)
Robbed blind
He's not wrapped too tight
Less is more
you're full of crap
life's a bitch
you're nuts
one bad apple spoils the bunch
too many Chiefs and not enough Indians
that pushes my buttons
sweet as pie
the heart wants what the heart wants
we go together like peas and carrotts
cute as a button pee like a race horse
sick as a dog
raining cats and dogs
love is blind
glass is always half empty
eye of the the tiger
keep your nose to the grindstone
happy as a clam
Fell of the wagon
No skin off my back
cool as a cucumber
kill two birds with one stone
there are more than 2 ways to skin a cat
Cold as ice
"tuff as nails"
"don't let the bed bugs bite"
"stick a fork in it"
"burning the midnight oil"
"acorn doesn't fall far from the tree"
"that's the way the cookie crumbles"
"we'll cross that bridge when we come to it"
"Fit as a fiddle"
"a strange duck"
"love pulls at the heart strings"
"burning the candle at both ends"
"rock hard abs"--not really one, but kinda
"Have your cake and eat it too"
"Smart as a whip"
"Rub salt in my wound"
"Cute as a button"
"off his rocker"
"he's light on his toes"
"Cat got your tongue"
"Quick as a whip"
"not for the faint of heart"
"Fly by the seat of your pants"
"Play it by ear"
"Eyeball the situation"