Faking It

I knew that graduation would start the summer where everything changed. And life tends to just rip the tape right off your mouth rather than pull slowly even though it's the douche that tied you up in the trunk in the first place. I'm moving. I'm leaving Phoenix. I haven't thought about it. It hasn't been real for a while. That's changing. I'm freaking out. Everything's changed in a matter of 2 weeks. It's just bizarre. A few months ago my best friend called me to tell me she was pregnant. When she got married a few years ago that wasn't that hard for me to get used to. I like Dustin and they have enough independence from each other to not be one of those creepy couples joined at the hip. Sarah with a baby is harder for me to wrap my head around. I'm so excited for her, but we've known each other so long as we are and having a baby is so grown up. I won't be here when Clara's born. I'll see Sarah this summer until I move and t...

According to my Mom. But rewind. This morning, myself and my parents got on a plane and flew to El Paso, Texas where I will be living for the next 4-6 years of my life beginning in August. The plane however, was the most interesting experience I've ever had on a plane. It was full of babies so immediately I'm thinking "why?!" And as we were leaving the gate I could hear someone singing. I thought it was one of the moms singing to her baby. I started to laugh because it was just a weird situation to be in. And then it started to get closer. I was thinking, "why is that lady moving? We're taking off!" And then I could hear the lyrics. "So kiss me and smile for me. Tell me that you'll wait for me. Hold me like you'll never let me go." And I thought, "oh surely not. This is too good." Oh yes. The flight attendant was singing. She was singing "Leaving on a Jet Plane" as she walked the aisle to make sure no one was carryin...

Ah travel. I hate the actually getting there part. Once I’m there I can figure things out and force myself to do them, but it’s the in between that blows. I was too nervous about what would happen the next day to sleep so I just packed up, showered, and watched Sex and the City while I waited for my alarm to go off at 6 a.m. I know I dropped off around 5 so yay! 1 whole hour of sleep just for me! But I was all ready to go and barely asleep so when the alarm went off I just got up and ready and was out the door by 7 a.m. The Days Inn was a great hotel. It was right next to a train station that took me straight to Times Square and had free “breakfast” and a completely non-intrusive staff. And by non-intrusive I mean practically non-existent. I barely saw any staff including front desk. The last night I came back late, 12:30 not crazy late, but the guy was dead asleep at the desk when I walked in. That’s why I use the deadbolt and chain! When I checked out the guy just had me turn in my k...

My last day in New York. It was bliss. I slept in a bit, not too late because the weather channel said there would be scattered thunder storms with rain and I was planning to go to the Central Park Zoo and didn’t want to get there and have all the animals hiding because they were wet. But it never rained at all. I got to Central Park and walked through the crowds of people watching the street vendors draw caricatures and portraits of their children, the guy making balloon animals and selling cotton candy to the ticket window for the zoo. It isn’t very big, the zoo only has four main areas that house a few animals but I was there to see the Polar Bear. I LOVE Polar Bears and there aren’t any in the Phoenix Zoo which I was just at over Spring Break and it’s not a real zoo without Polar Bears, although they make no sense in a desert climate. I get it, but I hate it. The main entrance leads straight to the Tropic Zone or the Sea Lions and I went to the Sea Lions first. There are 3 that han...

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, With conquering limbs astride from land to land; Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame. "Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus. I woke up at 6 a.m. to make it down to Battery Park before 9 to get on the ship that would take me to Liberty and Ellis Island. I've been getting closer and closer to this Statue since I arrived and today was the day I finally stood on the same piece of land as she does and saw her right up close. I knew ther...

Don't worry, we won't. Not much. Today I completely changed the plan. I felt quite spontaneous. I went to SoHo and went shopping and by shopping I mean I walked around a few stores that I could never afford and looked at everything. I sat in a couple of parks and did some people watching. I went to the Museum of Sex. And you're going to read about it. I walked from the train station to Broadway and Broome in search of Top Shelf. It is a really cute store! It's kind of like a more ritzy, expensive Forever21. The first shirt I picked up was $310. Insanity! People were walking around with armfuls of stuff! We are still in a recession right? It's great to keep the economy going but wow! I've been in search of a purse because it'll be easier to transport back to Phoenix in my suitcase than another pair of shoes, but the purses I picked up were crazy expensive! The cutest clutch with a flower print which would look perfect with the dress I had worn at graduation w...

Today was really slow. I didn't have a lot planned, but I figured walking across the Brooklyn Bridge would take a while. I didn't do it. It was hot as balls today. It's 11 p.m. and 89 degrees with one million percent humidity. Gross. I got up this morning and got on the train to go to Brooklyn. I had the day planned out; I do that. Go to the TKTS window and see what I could get, go to Junior's and try this "cheesecake," and then walk over the Brooklyn Bridge, take pictures, get on a train and be back to Queen's to move my things before Monica's dad got here. As per usual, it did not happen like that. The mixture of frustration and heat made me unbearably cranky, but everything worked itself out. I actually enjoyed the day overall. Not some bits, but overall, good day. I had mapped out the directions from TKTS to Junior's and from Junior's to the Bridge, but forgot from the train to TKTS. It's not really that far, but for some reason the loc...