(no subject)
It's 1:50 in New York, and brace yourselves, I feel an entry coming on.
I've been here for thirteen days, and it definitely feels like home. My apartment is, well, a bargain for the area but five steps down from my really nice old Chicago apartment. We have a mice problem, to my horror, but at least it's not a roach problem. Roaches immobilize me, I am the biggest scarycat ever with them. The mice are OK as long as they don't go into my bedroom... and I believed they didn't until a few nights ago. But after setting some mice traps, I felt better. And finally, my cat Sadie is living with us. She was in Connecticut with my parents for the move. Now she's here and she's loved by all inhabitants in the apartment. Except, of course, the mice. We have not seen mice since Sadie moved in. I feel much, much better.
The roommate situation is working out really well. Dory and Chris are both chill, rational, fun people. Sometimes we go out and do stuff together, sometimes we stay in the apartment, and sometimes we do our own thing. It's a good balance so far. We had a party for Pride last weekend, and it was cool to meet some of their friends, reconnect with some other high school friends, and have them meet a friend or two of mine. The three of us feel very comfortable around each other.
People will always tell you that New York is expensive. I believed it in terms of rent - my rent almost doubled from Chicago. But jeezus, it's not just the rent. Add $1-2 to anything you usually buy. Take red delicious apples, for example. I paid $.99 a pound for these in Chicago, if they weren't on sale. In New York, I walk into Gristedes and my jaw drops as I pay $2.50 a pound. Lean Cuisine meals? $2.50 in Chicago when they were on sale, which was usually. Here? $4.50, no sale in sight. My favorite ice cream in Chicago - 4.99. Here? 6.50. Yeah, it was a bit of a shock. I swallowed hard when I got so much less for my usual grocery budget. My roommates showed me this place called Western Beef which is a typical grocery store but with more reasonable prices. Not Chicago, but more reasonable. It's about a 20 minute walk away, though, making the walk back with arms full of groceries a workout.
Work starts this Sunday. Yes, Sunday. There is new teacher orientation Sunday and Monday. We have July 4 off, then it's more teacher meetings Wednesday through Friday. Then, kids Monday! I am to teach about 8 classes of 7th grade general music/band preparation. Not sure exactly what I want to do quite yet, though I have some ideas. I am thrilled that they take so much time to integrate new teachers to the school culture. My old school, like many public schools, just threw me in and expected me to figure out everything through osmosis. KIPP STAR really wants all its teachers on the same page from day 1. Since I've had the past 2 weeks off to wake up late and be a gym bunny, I don't mind starting on a Sunday. I have felt like a bum, and it's weird that I'm home so much. I'm excited to get started, and feel so, so good about starting my new job.
My mom's 50th birthday was today, well June 29th. My brother drove up from DC and the 4 of us went to this posh place in the meatpacking district, a mere 10 blocks from my apartment. That's all she said she really wanted to do for her birthday. My mom looked so good, you could tell she felt pretty in her new dress. I really do love my mom, and I know she had a really good birthday. And she totally deserved it.
So long story longer, life here is working out well. I have some old friends and I keep making new ones. It's a really different lifestyle, but I'm forced to get out and walk places. Since I'm on the subway to get anywhere anyway, getting almost anywhere in the city isn't that big a deal. I am finding my way around pretty well. It's working, I like it, and I'm really happy here so far. And, scene.
I've been here for thirteen days, and it definitely feels like home. My apartment is, well, a bargain for the area but five steps down from my really nice old Chicago apartment. We have a mice problem, to my horror, but at least it's not a roach problem. Roaches immobilize me, I am the biggest scarycat ever with them. The mice are OK as long as they don't go into my bedroom... and I believed they didn't until a few nights ago. But after setting some mice traps, I felt better. And finally, my cat Sadie is living with us. She was in Connecticut with my parents for the move. Now she's here and she's loved by all inhabitants in the apartment. Except, of course, the mice. We have not seen mice since Sadie moved in. I feel much, much better.
The roommate situation is working out really well. Dory and Chris are both chill, rational, fun people. Sometimes we go out and do stuff together, sometimes we stay in the apartment, and sometimes we do our own thing. It's a good balance so far. We had a party for Pride last weekend, and it was cool to meet some of their friends, reconnect with some other high school friends, and have them meet a friend or two of mine. The three of us feel very comfortable around each other.
People will always tell you that New York is expensive. I believed it in terms of rent - my rent almost doubled from Chicago. But jeezus, it's not just the rent. Add $1-2 to anything you usually buy. Take red delicious apples, for example. I paid $.99 a pound for these in Chicago, if they weren't on sale. In New York, I walk into Gristedes and my jaw drops as I pay $2.50 a pound. Lean Cuisine meals? $2.50 in Chicago when they were on sale, which was usually. Here? $4.50, no sale in sight. My favorite ice cream in Chicago - 4.99. Here? 6.50. Yeah, it was a bit of a shock. I swallowed hard when I got so much less for my usual grocery budget. My roommates showed me this place called Western Beef which is a typical grocery store but with more reasonable prices. Not Chicago, but more reasonable. It's about a 20 minute walk away, though, making the walk back with arms full of groceries a workout.
Work starts this Sunday. Yes, Sunday. There is new teacher orientation Sunday and Monday. We have July 4 off, then it's more teacher meetings Wednesday through Friday. Then, kids Monday! I am to teach about 8 classes of 7th grade general music/band preparation. Not sure exactly what I want to do quite yet, though I have some ideas. I am thrilled that they take so much time to integrate new teachers to the school culture. My old school, like many public schools, just threw me in and expected me to figure out everything through osmosis. KIPP STAR really wants all its teachers on the same page from day 1. Since I've had the past 2 weeks off to wake up late and be a gym bunny, I don't mind starting on a Sunday. I have felt like a bum, and it's weird that I'm home so much. I'm excited to get started, and feel so, so good about starting my new job.
My mom's 50th birthday was today, well June 29th. My brother drove up from DC and the 4 of us went to this posh place in the meatpacking district, a mere 10 blocks from my apartment. That's all she said she really wanted to do for her birthday. My mom looked so good, you could tell she felt pretty in her new dress. I really do love my mom, and I know she had a really good birthday. And she totally deserved it.
So long story longer, life here is working out well. I have some old friends and I keep making new ones. It's a really different lifestyle, but I'm forced to get out and walk places. Since I'm on the subway to get anywhere anyway, getting almost anywhere in the city isn't that big a deal. I am finding my way around pretty well. It's working, I like it, and I'm really happy here so far. And, scene.