OK. This isn't really going to be a review so much as my general first impressions. I definitely need to see it again. I was tired after having stood in lines for the greater portion of the evening, and am just tired in general from life being in a general state of chaos.
Here are my preliminary (tired) thoughts:
1. Natalie Portman is the worst thing that ever happened to movies.
2. Hayden Christensen, while still terrible, is a little less terrible that in Attack of the Clones. His acting, like Mark Hamill's, improves over time. Like Luke transitioning from whiney and uncertain farmboy to stoic and confident Jedi, Hayden Christensen is far more believable in this one.
3. The Jedi really have no idea what's going on. Like I expect them to kick more ass, to know what's going on, to be able to predict destruction! I guess the whole thing is that the Dark Side was clouding their visionary abilities and tainting their physical prowess. Right.
4. Yoda, as always, is the best. In fact, as I was leaving I overheard someone say "Yoda is the best."
5. If you need to use the restroom when you see it, please leave any time Natalie Portman appears on screen.
6. Visuals - WOW ZOWIE AMAZING OH MY GOD AMAZING INSANE!!!!
7. The first hour and a half felt like six hours.
8. The last 45 minutes will be burned into my brain for the rest of time. This is some of the best filmmaking I've ever seen.
9. I cried during those last 45 minutes. It was extremely intense. It was amazing.
10. I feel closure.
11. There was an extremely cheesy and inconsistent Darth Vader scene at the end that I am very mad about.
12. Definitely the best of the prequels.
13. Very dark.
14. The opening sequence felt very much like the originals, which was nice.
15. I don't know. Depending on what minute it is, I might say "It was awesome!" or "It wasn't very good." But mostly I'm leaning towards "Mostly it was bad but the payoff was definitely worth waiting 6 years and enduring awful love scenes for. Go see it, but don't wait in line for hours because this movie feels like an eternity."
I'll probably see it again this weekend and will have more coherent thoughts next week.
Now am I going to eat lunch, which I brought.
Friday, May 20, 2005
REVENGE OF THE SITH!!!!
After the Aimee Mann show, I headed uptown to the Ziegfeld to get in line for 9:30 showing of Revenge of the Sith.
I was slightly concerned about the line. When I arrived at the "megastore" earlier that evening, I encountered hundreds upon hundreds of people waiting in line for the 8:15 showing at the Union Square theater.
I arrived at about 7:00 and already there were hundreds upon hundreds of people in line.
These were the people in front of me:
I was excited, because one of the people in front of me was Shandi from America's Next Top Model. You might remember Shandi as the girl who cheated on her boyfriend with a hot male model in Milan and who then experienced all sorts of televised drama that scandalized the entire world:
I was dejected when I first arrived, because I thought "Man, I am at the end of the line. I should have arrived here like four hours ago." The line wasn't a line so much as it was a mob of people in a semi-organized state.
The overall vibe was good, though, and people were excited.
D couldn't take standing anymore and was the only person who sat down:
He was hoping to start a movement that all would follow. I had hope, too, as I wanted to sit down. But I didn't want for us to be the only ones. He kept saying things like "Standing, unlike walking, has no health benefit at all. The only thing it does is help you get better at standing, and, really, who wants to do that?"
After another hour in line, I didn't feel so bad because there were a lot of people behind us:
I overheard someone in the ladies' room say that The Ziegfeld holds 1900 people or something. It's an old, classic theater with velvet seats.
Getting into the theater wasn't as dramatic as I'd feared. It took about 5 minutes to get everyone inside, and it flowed quickly.
We ran up the stairs and decided to head straight for the balcony.
We got seats in the fifth row and couldn't contain our excitement.
I am annoyed because my camera died during my attempt to stealthly take pictures of Shandi, so I don't have any photos of the chaos in the theater.
The vibe was amazing. I said "D, it is so important to do this, because whether or not you want to admit it, we are part of this group."
He laughed and said "Yes. Yes yes."
D had been soliloquizing in the line about identifying oneself with a group - either by ethnicity or hometown etc. and the philosophical assumptions that this self-identification carries and how people will take the good but not the bad assumptions associated with the group they're mentioning blah blah - and I was like "Yes, dear, yes, but can I just watch the people and be excited about Star Wars?"
I admit it. I am a nerd. I am a huge Star Wars nerd and I was proud to be amongst my people.
There were a bunch of Jedi in the audience and two kids that staged a light saber duel at the front of the theater.
It was electric.
I decided to use the ladies' room, and it was awesome because the line for the ladies' room was about 1/10 the size of the line for the men's room. Justice!
The gender ratio was about 10:1 male:female in the line, and I know all the nerd-boys were like "Dude, we can't miss one second of this movie!"
They showed the previews and people were rowdy. I love a rowdy audience. I love digital projection. I love the way the 20th Century Fox drums sound when you know Star Wars is to follow. I love knowing you are about to have a religious experience.
I love that people starting screaming when the Lucasfilm logo appeared and I love the dude behind me who yelled "Wait for it... wait for it...."
And then: REVENGE OF THE SITH.
I was slightly concerned about the line. When I arrived at the "megastore" earlier that evening, I encountered hundreds upon hundreds of people waiting in line for the 8:15 showing at the Union Square theater.
I arrived at about 7:00 and already there were hundreds upon hundreds of people in line.
These were the people in front of me:
I was excited, because one of the people in front of me was Shandi from America's Next Top Model. You might remember Shandi as the girl who cheated on her boyfriend with a hot male model in Milan and who then experienced all sorts of televised drama that scandalized the entire world:
I was dejected when I first arrived, because I thought "Man, I am at the end of the line. I should have arrived here like four hours ago." The line wasn't a line so much as it was a mob of people in a semi-organized state.
The overall vibe was good, though, and people were excited.
D couldn't take standing anymore and was the only person who sat down:
He was hoping to start a movement that all would follow. I had hope, too, as I wanted to sit down. But I didn't want for us to be the only ones. He kept saying things like "Standing, unlike walking, has no health benefit at all. The only thing it does is help you get better at standing, and, really, who wants to do that?"
After another hour in line, I didn't feel so bad because there were a lot of people behind us:
I overheard someone in the ladies' room say that The Ziegfeld holds 1900 people or something. It's an old, classic theater with velvet seats.
Getting into the theater wasn't as dramatic as I'd feared. It took about 5 minutes to get everyone inside, and it flowed quickly.
We ran up the stairs and decided to head straight for the balcony.
We got seats in the fifth row and couldn't contain our excitement.
I am annoyed because my camera died during my attempt to stealthly take pictures of Shandi, so I don't have any photos of the chaos in the theater.
The vibe was amazing. I said "D, it is so important to do this, because whether or not you want to admit it, we are part of this group."
He laughed and said "Yes. Yes yes."
D had been soliloquizing in the line about identifying oneself with a group - either by ethnicity or hometown etc. and the philosophical assumptions that this self-identification carries and how people will take the good but not the bad assumptions associated with the group they're mentioning blah blah - and I was like "Yes, dear, yes, but can I just watch the people and be excited about Star Wars?"
I admit it. I am a nerd. I am a huge Star Wars nerd and I was proud to be amongst my people.
There were a bunch of Jedi in the audience and two kids that staged a light saber duel at the front of the theater.
It was electric.
I decided to use the ladies' room, and it was awesome because the line for the ladies' room was about 1/10 the size of the line for the men's room. Justice!
The gender ratio was about 10:1 male:female in the line, and I know all the nerd-boys were like "Dude, we can't miss one second of this movie!"
They showed the previews and people were rowdy. I love a rowdy audience. I love digital projection. I love the way the 20th Century Fox drums sound when you know Star Wars is to follow. I love knowing you are about to have a religious experience.
I love that people starting screaming when the Lucasfilm logo appeared and I love the dude behind me who yelled "Wait for it... wait for it...."
And then: REVENGE OF THE SITH.
Aimee Mann at Virgin Megastore
I hate to use the word "megastore." I'd never even been in the "Megastore" (despite using it as a good place to meet people outside of) until yesterday, because I prefer to buy CD's used or from wicked cool places such as Newbury Comics, although I've found no equivalent thus far in NYC.
Aimee Mann was doing an in-store appearance at 6:30. I left work at about 5:15 despite having sauntered in at around 10:05. I wanted to see, dammit! There was no way I'd be able to see if I got there any later than 6:00.
Despite having arrived early, I was still unable to see a thing.
Luckily I had my camera with me (for somebody's going-away lunch and for REVENGE OF THE SITH). Otherwise I'd never even have known what Aimee Mann was wearing.
As always, Aimee Mann was amazing. Her voice is so clear and perfect. She's probably one of the best live performers ever.
She played five new songs and all were amazing. I'd have picked up the new album from the "megastore" and had her sign it had I not had to run to get into the line at the Ziegfeld for the 9:00 showing of REVENGE OF THE SITH!!!!
Anyway, Aimee Mann. Awesome. Grab the new album and see her if you get a chance. Actually, I'd recommend seeing an in-store instead of seeing her live, because, unlike her show at Avalon, nobody was making out in the "megastore."
Aimee Mann was doing an in-store appearance at 6:30. I left work at about 5:15 despite having sauntered in at around 10:05. I wanted to see, dammit! There was no way I'd be able to see if I got there any later than 6:00.
Despite having arrived early, I was still unable to see a thing.
Luckily I had my camera with me (for somebody's going-away lunch and for REVENGE OF THE SITH). Otherwise I'd never even have known what Aimee Mann was wearing.
As always, Aimee Mann was amazing. Her voice is so clear and perfect. She's probably one of the best live performers ever.
She played five new songs and all were amazing. I'd have picked up the new album from the "megastore" and had her sign it had I not had to run to get into the line at the Ziegfeld for the 9:00 showing of REVENGE OF THE SITH!!!!
Anyway, Aimee Mann. Awesome. Grab the new album and see her if you get a chance. Actually, I'd recommend seeing an in-store instead of seeing her live, because, unlike her show at Avalon, nobody was making out in the "megastore."
Thursday, May 19, 2005
Revenge of the Sith Activities - Part II
I was so excited after having experienced Star Wars fever in the afternoon that I decided to go back to The Ziegfeld at night to see more!
I knew it would be torture since I did not have tickets to the premier, but decided to deal with the torture since this would be the last time this would ever happen!
When I arrived, The Ziegfeld was prepared for Revenge of the Sith:
There was a spotlight, red carpet, and Storm Troopers loitering:
At one point the Storm Troopers sang "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" or whatever that song is to some girl who was dressed up as Princess Leia. It was adorable.
Here are some photos from the line:
This guy was confused:
At 10:00, they let the people who had been waiting forever walk the red carpet:
All of the costumed people who were part of the original bunch then got to walk the red carpet:
The Average Joe people were going to be allowed to enter the theater at 11:10, but I didn't want to stick around to see them walk the carpet. I had met a lot of them that afternoon, but couldn't keep my eyes open long enough to show my support.
I wanted to make sure I got a good night's sleep so that I'd be completely lucid tonight when I see Episode III!!!!!
YEAH!!!!
I have my camera with me today, so if anything interesting happens tonight, you will get to see.
I knew it would be torture since I did not have tickets to the premier, but decided to deal with the torture since this would be the last time this would ever happen!
When I arrived, The Ziegfeld was prepared for Revenge of the Sith:
There was a spotlight, red carpet, and Storm Troopers loitering:
At one point the Storm Troopers sang "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" or whatever that song is to some girl who was dressed up as Princess Leia. It was adorable.
Here are some photos from the line:
This guy was confused:
At 10:00, they let the people who had been waiting forever walk the red carpet:
All of the costumed people who were part of the original bunch then got to walk the red carpet:
The Average Joe people were going to be allowed to enter the theater at 11:10, but I didn't want to stick around to see them walk the carpet. I had met a lot of them that afternoon, but couldn't keep my eyes open long enough to show my support.
I wanted to make sure I got a good night's sleep so that I'd be completely lucid tonight when I see Episode III!!!!!
YEAH!!!!
I have my camera with me today, so if anything interesting happens tonight, you will get to see.
Revenge of the Sith Activities - Part 1
I had to go for bloodwork yesterday afternoon. It was a beautiful day and I happened to have my camera with me, so I decided to swing by the Ziegfeld on 54th to see if there was any Star Wars related insanity going down.
On my way to the Ziegfeld, I encountered this guy:
I knew I was in for a treat.
The Ziegfeld was busily preparing for the red carpet that night:
There were lots of people camping out:
Some of these people were part of a non-profit organization that was raising money for charity by waiting in line for months. They apparently were going to get into the movie first.
The non-profit people sponsored things for the campers, such as massages:
Geek Squad also had this thing, a Fully Operational Workstation:
The inside of the workstation was set up to look like "the Death Star." A very cute boy told me I could go inside. I don't know if it was open to the general public or if he let me inside because I looked tres official with my camera. Inside they had a bunch of computers with wireless internet connections so the campers could keep in touch with the outside world, as well as what looked like a kitchen.
After the non-profit line was the line of regular people who were hoping to get a good seat:
On my way back to work, I passed a little souvenir shop. It's window looked like this:
I had to go inside. I took some photos:
Because I felt guilty about taking pictures in the store, I bought Star Wars temporary tattoos that we are still showing off today!
On my way to the Ziegfeld, I encountered this guy:
I knew I was in for a treat.
The Ziegfeld was busily preparing for the red carpet that night:
There were lots of people camping out:
Some of these people were part of a non-profit organization that was raising money for charity by waiting in line for months. They apparently were going to get into the movie first.
The non-profit people sponsored things for the campers, such as massages:
Geek Squad also had this thing, a Fully Operational Workstation:
The inside of the workstation was set up to look like "the Death Star." A very cute boy told me I could go inside. I don't know if it was open to the general public or if he let me inside because I looked tres official with my camera. Inside they had a bunch of computers with wireless internet connections so the campers could keep in touch with the outside world, as well as what looked like a kitchen.
After the non-profit line was the line of regular people who were hoping to get a good seat:
On my way back to work, I passed a little souvenir shop. It's window looked like this:
I had to go inside. I took some photos:
Because I felt guilty about taking pictures in the store, I bought Star Wars temporary tattoos that we are still showing off today!
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
Jawas
Why is it that every time you're applying a Star Wars tattoo at work your boss appears at that very second and shrieks, in alarm, "What happened? Are you OK!??!?!" At first you are confused. You then have to say "Oh? You mean why am I sitting here hunched over while holding a wad of wet paper towels against my arm?" If you are Bench Buddy you then say "Because, oh really, its nothing, I just, its minor... it's a... it's a small gash..." And then, if you're me, and you assume that everyone in their right mind is scrambling for an opportunity to apply a Star Wars tattoo at work, you start giggling like a maniac and offer Bench Buddy's extremely conservative and hardworking boss a Princess Leia tattoo which she refuses.
The Jawa tattoo on my forearm is awesome.
I know. Try not to be too jealous.
The Jawa tattoo on my forearm is awesome.
I know. Try not to be too jealous.
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
Collective Sigh of Relief
You can all sleep well tonight knowing that my laundry, all of it, has been returned to me without issue.
It is all there and it is oh so clean.
And miraculously compressed into 1/8 its original size, so I didn't break my back carrying it this time.
They folded everything into amazing little square packets. My clothes have never looked so beautiful!
People in New York say "Once you drop off laundry you'll never do your own laundry again! You will be hooked! Don't do it!!!" I thought "How uptown girl! I'll never drop off my laundry! I will never be that person!" I determined that it was acceptable to drop off my laundry this one time since I just moved and am without clothes or free time to do laundry but dear god! My clothes are all little squares! It's fabulous!!! Not only do you not have to do laundry, but it takes 1/10 the time to put it away because it is already folded, and folded professionally in a way that I can never even hope to duplicate.
I think I am addicted.
Drat.
It is all there and it is oh so clean.
And miraculously compressed into 1/8 its original size, so I didn't break my back carrying it this time.
They folded everything into amazing little square packets. My clothes have never looked so beautiful!
People in New York say "Once you drop off laundry you'll never do your own laundry again! You will be hooked! Don't do it!!!" I thought "How uptown girl! I'll never drop off my laundry! I will never be that person!" I determined that it was acceptable to drop off my laundry this one time since I just moved and am without clothes or free time to do laundry but dear god! My clothes are all little squares! It's fabulous!!! Not only do you not have to do laundry, but it takes 1/10 the time to put it away because it is already folded, and folded professionally in a way that I can never even hope to duplicate.
I think I am addicted.
Drat.
Ex-Factor
I have another question for you, dear readers.
Is it completely irrational to feel unsettled about your significant other spending time with his/her ex?
I feel that it is irrational, but only slightly.
Is it normal not to want to meet your significant other's former lovers? I can't believe I just wrote "lovers." I am a dork.
Ah, to be secure. It's hard to explain these sorts of issues to someone who is completely secure.
I feel like I'd be thinking, the entire time, "You slept with my boyfriend!" and "I wonder what they were like together" and "She's way hotter than me" and "Why is he looking at her like that?" and "What are they saying to each other?" and "They seem to share something that we don't have!" and "Damn, she is infinitely cooler than me."
Secure people would think "What a nice girl" and "I'd like to be her friend" and "Isn't it nice that my boyfriend has such a hot friend who he's not interested in at all, even though they used to sleep together constantly, because he loves me!"
Right.
How do you just become secure? What needs to happen? What snaps that allows you to be like "Nothing can jeopardize this"?
I don't know. I don't know why I'm uncomfortable with the idea. I guess its because I've had many sordid encounters with various ex-es and I don't trust ex-es one bit.
Why, if you are a person with millions of friends, must you keep your ex around?
In my experience, people keep their ex-es around for one of three reasons:
1. source of comfort
2. source of self esteem
3. as a backup
If you're in a good relationship, why have your ex be a presence?
Unless you dated a million years ago. Fresh ex-es are scary.
Unless the ex was substantial. Then again, if the ex is super meaningful then you're tied together forever, which also makes me nervous, and is another reason the ex should not be in your life.
Unless the ex is insubstantial. Then again, if the ex is insubstantial, then the ex should not be in your life if it is a cause of stress to your significant other. What's the point?
I suppose you are supposed to trust the judgment of your significant other to know what is and is not a good idea for the relationship.
D said "I don't care if you hang out with Former Favorite-Ex-Boyfriend" and I was like "It's not a good idea." He didn't understand why. I said "Because, Former- Favorite-Ex-Boyfriend and I had something really special, whatever it was, and when I talk to him I am reminded of it and it's not good for the relationship I am in now. This relationship is more important to me than having dinner with Former-Favorite-Ex-Boyfriend." D's like "But I don't care if you do" and I had to say "But I do and you have to just accept it."
D said "But it's important to me that I show my support to Ex-Girlfriend" and I wanted to be like "Doesn't she have other people to get support from?"
Why is this so important?
Blah. I am an irrational loser.
What do you think?
Is it completely irrational to feel unsettled about your significant other spending time with his/her ex?
I feel that it is irrational, but only slightly.
Is it normal not to want to meet your significant other's former lovers? I can't believe I just wrote "lovers." I am a dork.
Ah, to be secure. It's hard to explain these sorts of issues to someone who is completely secure.
I feel like I'd be thinking, the entire time, "You slept with my boyfriend!" and "I wonder what they were like together" and "She's way hotter than me" and "Why is he looking at her like that?" and "What are they saying to each other?" and "They seem to share something that we don't have!" and "Damn, she is infinitely cooler than me."
Secure people would think "What a nice girl" and "I'd like to be her friend" and "Isn't it nice that my boyfriend has such a hot friend who he's not interested in at all, even though they used to sleep together constantly, because he loves me!"
Right.
How do you just become secure? What needs to happen? What snaps that allows you to be like "Nothing can jeopardize this"?
I don't know. I don't know why I'm uncomfortable with the idea. I guess its because I've had many sordid encounters with various ex-es and I don't trust ex-es one bit.
Why, if you are a person with millions of friends, must you keep your ex around?
In my experience, people keep their ex-es around for one of three reasons:
1. source of comfort
2. source of self esteem
3. as a backup
If you're in a good relationship, why have your ex be a presence?
Unless you dated a million years ago. Fresh ex-es are scary.
Unless the ex was substantial. Then again, if the ex is super meaningful then you're tied together forever, which also makes me nervous, and is another reason the ex should not be in your life.
Unless the ex is insubstantial. Then again, if the ex is insubstantial, then the ex should not be in your life if it is a cause of stress to your significant other. What's the point?
I suppose you are supposed to trust the judgment of your significant other to know what is and is not a good idea for the relationship.
D said "I don't care if you hang out with Former Favorite-Ex-Boyfriend" and I was like "It's not a good idea." He didn't understand why. I said "Because, Former- Favorite-Ex-Boyfriend and I had something really special, whatever it was, and when I talk to him I am reminded of it and it's not good for the relationship I am in now. This relationship is more important to me than having dinner with Former-Favorite-Ex-Boyfriend." D's like "But I don't care if you do" and I had to say "But I do and you have to just accept it."
D said "But it's important to me that I show my support to Ex-Girlfriend" and I wanted to be like "Doesn't she have other people to get support from?"
Why is this so important?
Blah. I am an irrational loser.
What do you think?
Legs
Does anyone know why people cross their legs while sitting?
Is this something that's been socialized or does it provide some sort of biological function?
D argues that it's biological. I think its social. He said "But I cross my legs when I am by myself." I said "But why?"
He said nothing.
Anyone? Anyone?
Is this something that's been socialized or does it provide some sort of biological function?
D argues that it's biological. I think its social. He said "But I cross my legs when I am by myself." I said "But why?"
He said nothing.
Anyone? Anyone?
Monday, May 16, 2005
Sheets
I nearly broke my back this morning dropping off 20 pounds of laundry for someone else to do for me.
All I need now is a small dog to put in my bag and the transformation to New Yorker will be complete.
More to come when my brain has resumed normal functionality.
All I need now is a small dog to put in my bag and the transformation to New Yorker will be complete.
More to come when my brain has resumed normal functionality.
Thursday, May 12, 2005
Dogs
Why must people in NYC bring their dogs to work and then bring their dogs in the elevator, thus causing all of the people to be squished up against the sides of the elevators, while the dog runs around freely?
Why?
Why?
The Kid From Third Rock From the Sun....
... got hot.
I went to see Mysterious Skin last night.
It was difficult but good.
Prostitution on film is never easy. I was thinking, though, that there's this whole element of people who are into this sort of thing and I have no idea who they are or how they know about their options.
In movies, people always seem to just "know" who is a prostitute. And they're like "Hey, you, I'll pay $50." Like how do they know? Is it really just writing on bathroom walls? Is there some signal I don't know about it?
Nevertheless, Joseph Gordon-Levitt is beautiful. The movie was challenging. It dealt with a horrific subject matter in a non-melodramatic and interesting way. It was understated and sentimental without being cheesy.
I don't know if you should see it. It drains you. It hurts. It's lovely.
I am going to get my hair cut now so I can look cute for N's first wedding this weekend!
I went to see Mysterious Skin last night.
It was difficult but good.
Prostitution on film is never easy. I was thinking, though, that there's this whole element of people who are into this sort of thing and I have no idea who they are or how they know about their options.
In movies, people always seem to just "know" who is a prostitute. And they're like "Hey, you, I'll pay $50." Like how do they know? Is it really just writing on bathroom walls? Is there some signal I don't know about it?
Nevertheless, Joseph Gordon-Levitt is beautiful. The movie was challenging. It dealt with a horrific subject matter in a non-melodramatic and interesting way. It was understated and sentimental without being cheesy.
I don't know if you should see it. It drains you. It hurts. It's lovely.
I am going to get my hair cut now so I can look cute for N's first wedding this weekend!
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
There Are No....
... hipsters in my building!
In fact, there are no hipsters anywhere near my building.
My area is very old timey.
There are ancient, charming people who I imagine have many stories living in my building.
I love New York again.
In fact, there are no hipsters anywhere near my building.
My area is very old timey.
There are ancient, charming people who I imagine have many stories living in my building.
I love New York again.
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
Monday, May 09, 2005
I Now Live in Manhattan Part 3 - The Aftermath
3. The Aftermath
I actually feel quite settled.
I need many things, but all of the essentials are taken care of. Tonight I will go to Pier 1 to return the oversized silverware tray and will buy plates and bowls and glasses. I need a kitchen table and chairs and perhaps a love seat. I need a kitchen cart and a colander and a toaster oven. I need a more aesthetically pleasing alarm clock. I need tupperware. I need reasonable groceries.
I woke up early yesterday because I was excited. I made lists and unpacked shoes while D unpacked books and videos and CDs. His goal is to eliminate boxes. Whatever he wants is fine with me as long as progress is being made.
I took my first shower in the new apartment yesterday. It was an adventure. At first it wouldn't get hot, then it was too hot, then it was freezing. The shower curtain, which is too small, kept smothering me because I'd opened the bathroom window for a cross draft. This left me with about a millimeter of width in which to shower. Another good thing about being small is that you can take showers in ridiculously tight spaces. Although, I did drop the soap this morning and it was not easy to pick up, but I did not have to step outside of the shower to do so.
D and I went to Home Depot and bought shelving and brackets and other goodies.
We then went for breakfast at this adorable place on 9th and 35th that serves breakfastallday and had a special involving scrambled eggs with cream cheese and scallions! Yes!
We then headed out to Brooklyn to see the Basquiat show at the Brooklyn Museum. I was very tired and the show was overwhelming. Any Basquiat painting or drawing in a group of other work is a superstar. An entire show of Basquiat is a bit much to handle, especially when you're tired. You could look at one of his paintings for five hours. It's hard to digest 100 of them in an hour and a half.
After Basquiat, we headed back into the city where we went to Bed, Bath and Beyond and bought more fabulous things such as a curtain and curtain rod for my bedroom, bathroom shelves, and hooks for the kitchen. I went to The Container Store afterwards, my new favorite place on the planet, and bought a reasonably sized silverware tray and some other space saving miracles.
After our errands, we saw Kingdom of Heaven at the 34th Street Theater, which is a 5 minute walk from my new apartment. Orlando Bloom. Yes. I said "If Orlando Bloom played Anakin Skywalker the world would be a better place." It was surprisingly good. I had no desire to see it but D, a fan of all movies epic, really wanted to. It is weird to me that back-in-the-day, kings would just fight battles with the troops, and seemingly without extra protection. I wish W had to do that. If he did, I imagine things would be very different.
Back at the apartment, we put up shelves and hooks and I cleaned the floor with the new wet-jet-whatever-thing (not Swiffer - I forget what it is) I bought at Home Depot.
We finished watching Star Wars while eating Mint Chocolate Cookie and then went to bed.
Phew.
Busy. But feeling settled, which is not a feeling I've felt since moving to NYC.
Tonight we will put up more shelves and organize books on them. If ambitious, we will hang things on the wall. If not, we will watch episodes of The Muppet Show on DVD.
Regardless, we will have fun in the new apartment because it is an awesome apartment. And it is all mine.
Mwa ha ha!!!!!
I actually feel quite settled.
I need many things, but all of the essentials are taken care of. Tonight I will go to Pier 1 to return the oversized silverware tray and will buy plates and bowls and glasses. I need a kitchen table and chairs and perhaps a love seat. I need a kitchen cart and a colander and a toaster oven. I need a more aesthetically pleasing alarm clock. I need tupperware. I need reasonable groceries.
I woke up early yesterday because I was excited. I made lists and unpacked shoes while D unpacked books and videos and CDs. His goal is to eliminate boxes. Whatever he wants is fine with me as long as progress is being made.
I took my first shower in the new apartment yesterday. It was an adventure. At first it wouldn't get hot, then it was too hot, then it was freezing. The shower curtain, which is too small, kept smothering me because I'd opened the bathroom window for a cross draft. This left me with about a millimeter of width in which to shower. Another good thing about being small is that you can take showers in ridiculously tight spaces. Although, I did drop the soap this morning and it was not easy to pick up, but I did not have to step outside of the shower to do so.
D and I went to Home Depot and bought shelving and brackets and other goodies.
We then went for breakfast at this adorable place on 9th and 35th that serves breakfastallday and had a special involving scrambled eggs with cream cheese and scallions! Yes!
We then headed out to Brooklyn to see the Basquiat show at the Brooklyn Museum. I was very tired and the show was overwhelming. Any Basquiat painting or drawing in a group of other work is a superstar. An entire show of Basquiat is a bit much to handle, especially when you're tired. You could look at one of his paintings for five hours. It's hard to digest 100 of them in an hour and a half.
After Basquiat, we headed back into the city where we went to Bed, Bath and Beyond and bought more fabulous things such as a curtain and curtain rod for my bedroom, bathroom shelves, and hooks for the kitchen. I went to The Container Store afterwards, my new favorite place on the planet, and bought a reasonably sized silverware tray and some other space saving miracles.
After our errands, we saw Kingdom of Heaven at the 34th Street Theater, which is a 5 minute walk from my new apartment. Orlando Bloom. Yes. I said "If Orlando Bloom played Anakin Skywalker the world would be a better place." It was surprisingly good. I had no desire to see it but D, a fan of all movies epic, really wanted to. It is weird to me that back-in-the-day, kings would just fight battles with the troops, and seemingly without extra protection. I wish W had to do that. If he did, I imagine things would be very different.
Back at the apartment, we put up shelves and hooks and I cleaned the floor with the new wet-jet-whatever-thing (not Swiffer - I forget what it is) I bought at Home Depot.
We finished watching Star Wars while eating Mint Chocolate Cookie and then went to bed.
Phew.
Busy. But feeling settled, which is not a feeling I've felt since moving to NYC.
Tonight we will put up more shelves and organize books on them. If ambitious, we will hang things on the wall. If not, we will watch episodes of The Muppet Show on DVD.
Regardless, we will have fun in the new apartment because it is an awesome apartment. And it is all mine.
Mwa ha ha!!!!!
I Now Live in Manhattan Part 2 - The Unpacking
Just got off the phone with worst health-insurance provider on the planet. In addition to the potential $850 I found I may owe for the kidney stone surgery I didn't have, I may owe even more money because they are claiming I have a pre-existing condition and that I was uninsured prior to having this particular insurance.
Obviously I was insured. Obviously I will be able to prove this, since I was insured.
It's just annoying since things need not be this difficult. And costly. I hate my health insurance. I hate health insurance in general. I hate that I have to pay all sorts of deductibles and for all sorts of procedures that were once covered by my monthly premiums.
Nevertheless....
2. The Unpacking
While I was meeting the piano movers, D stayed behind to hold down the fort and to do adorable things like unpack the kitchen boxes and move around the remaining boxes so as to clear an appropriate trajectory for the piano.
He couldn't put the bed together because the bed suffered a freight elevator-related injury. The frame was stacked against the wall, so that when the elevator went between floors it basically hit the wall, and, at times, got pulled up and nearly smooshed between the elevator and wall. I can't quite understand why the superintendent said "Grab your bed" instead of saying "Let me stop the elevator for a second while you grab your bed." I grabbed the pieces of the frame that I could and nearly broke my arm in the process. Luckily the frame (and my arm) didn't break. We both came away with cuts and bruises, and a piece of the frame got pulled off of the wood and all of the screws went missing.
D and I went to the hardware store to buy screws, a drill bit and sand paper. We then grabbed a late lunch and headed back to the new apartment, where D did things like sand down the bathroom and where I made the following discoveries:
1. Free internet! YES! I don't know the owner of the wireless connection I am using, but they are my new favorite person on the planet.
2. My clothes all fit in my closet!
3. My apartment has expanded in size with the addition of "stuff."
4. My stove is too small for the baking sheets I own.
5. My new silverware tray is too big for the drawer.
6. The Brita was too tall for anywhere in the refrigerator, although that was remedied by moving the refrigerator across the kitchen in order to remove a shelf.
7. My former kitchen shelves look perfect as an entertainment center.
8. My toilet is really low and my bathroom sink is really high.
9. My shower curtain is too short.
10. I am a much better packer than I give myself credit for.
When we got home, I did fun things like organize my clothes by color in the new closet. D, who slipped back into perfect-boyfriend-mode, sandpapered the bathroom and swept and unpacked boxes. Together we hooked up the TV and DVD player and VCR and stereo and Ipod.
Putting the bed together proved more difficult than we'd imagined. The preexisting holes in the frame were apparently drilled arbitrarily, which may or may not explain why my bed squeaks if you look at it too long.
Amidst the bed reassembly I realized I was completely and utterly exhausted. I couldn't function. My body was aching and I just completely shut down. As soon as we got the bed together, which took about an hour, I hastily threw sheets on it and we meant to take a nap.
D then went back to work on the bathroom while I dealt more with clothes and bedroom-related tasks. He left to do whatever D does when he is alone and I stayed behind and unpacked and organized kitchen things, bathroom things, bedding, and more clothes.
I then went to buy groceries which, in typical NY form, proved challenging. There seems to be only one market within a 5 block radius, and they don't have things like fruit. They don't have any cereal I like. They only have meat-flavored sauce. They do, however, have Ben and Jerry's Mint Chocolate Cookie ice cream, which I suppose is all that matters.
On my way home M called and left a message asking about the move, in which she said "You're probably asleep." I laughed because I really wanted to be asleep.
I got home and made myself a peanut butter sandwich which I promptly ate while sitting on the floor. I talked with my parents and was psyched that my mother received her flowers and candy while on the phone with me! Woo hoo!!!!
D came back and we unpacked a bit more, inflated the air mattress, grabbed some throw pillows and watched as much of Attack of the Clones as we could before passing out. The last thing I remember is "I killed them all!"
Obviously I was insured. Obviously I will be able to prove this, since I was insured.
It's just annoying since things need not be this difficult. And costly. I hate my health insurance. I hate health insurance in general. I hate that I have to pay all sorts of deductibles and for all sorts of procedures that were once covered by my monthly premiums.
Nevertheless....
2. The Unpacking
While I was meeting the piano movers, D stayed behind to hold down the fort and to do adorable things like unpack the kitchen boxes and move around the remaining boxes so as to clear an appropriate trajectory for the piano.
He couldn't put the bed together because the bed suffered a freight elevator-related injury. The frame was stacked against the wall, so that when the elevator went between floors it basically hit the wall, and, at times, got pulled up and nearly smooshed between the elevator and wall. I can't quite understand why the superintendent said "Grab your bed" instead of saying "Let me stop the elevator for a second while you grab your bed." I grabbed the pieces of the frame that I could and nearly broke my arm in the process. Luckily the frame (and my arm) didn't break. We both came away with cuts and bruises, and a piece of the frame got pulled off of the wood and all of the screws went missing.
D and I went to the hardware store to buy screws, a drill bit and sand paper. We then grabbed a late lunch and headed back to the new apartment, where D did things like sand down the bathroom and where I made the following discoveries:
1. Free internet! YES! I don't know the owner of the wireless connection I am using, but they are my new favorite person on the planet.
2. My clothes all fit in my closet!
3. My apartment has expanded in size with the addition of "stuff."
4. My stove is too small for the baking sheets I own.
5. My new silverware tray is too big for the drawer.
6. The Brita was too tall for anywhere in the refrigerator, although that was remedied by moving the refrigerator across the kitchen in order to remove a shelf.
7. My former kitchen shelves look perfect as an entertainment center.
8. My toilet is really low and my bathroom sink is really high.
9. My shower curtain is too short.
10. I am a much better packer than I give myself credit for.
When we got home, I did fun things like organize my clothes by color in the new closet. D, who slipped back into perfect-boyfriend-mode, sandpapered the bathroom and swept and unpacked boxes. Together we hooked up the TV and DVD player and VCR and stereo and Ipod.
Putting the bed together proved more difficult than we'd imagined. The preexisting holes in the frame were apparently drilled arbitrarily, which may or may not explain why my bed squeaks if you look at it too long.
Amidst the bed reassembly I realized I was completely and utterly exhausted. I couldn't function. My body was aching and I just completely shut down. As soon as we got the bed together, which took about an hour, I hastily threw sheets on it and we meant to take a nap.
D then went back to work on the bathroom while I dealt more with clothes and bedroom-related tasks. He left to do whatever D does when he is alone and I stayed behind and unpacked and organized kitchen things, bathroom things, bedding, and more clothes.
I then went to buy groceries which, in typical NY form, proved challenging. There seems to be only one market within a 5 block radius, and they don't have things like fruit. They don't have any cereal I like. They only have meat-flavored sauce. They do, however, have Ben and Jerry's Mint Chocolate Cookie ice cream, which I suppose is all that matters.
On my way home M called and left a message asking about the move, in which she said "You're probably asleep." I laughed because I really wanted to be asleep.
I got home and made myself a peanut butter sandwich which I promptly ate while sitting on the floor. I talked with my parents and was psyched that my mother received her flowers and candy while on the phone with me! Woo hoo!!!!
D came back and we unpacked a bit more, inflated the air mattress, grabbed some throw pillows and watched as much of Attack of the Clones as we could before passing out. The last thing I remember is "I killed them all!"
Random Aside
My new lab notebook's number is the zip code of the town I grew up in!
Will the insanity ever cease?
Will the insanity ever cease?
I Now Live in Manhattan Part 1 - The Move
Madness.
My commute into work this morning was 25 mintues. Only 25 minutes! I took my sweet time. Looked around. Looked futilely for a potential spot at which to buy groceries.
I shall divide this post into three segments:
1. The Move
2. The Unpacking
3. The Aftermath
1. The Move
At 7:45 am on Saturday, D arrived, focused, to take the bed apart. I began dragging things to the freight elevator. At 7:55, the movers I'd hired via Craigslist arrived. They proceeded to get lost in the building, as everyone does, and then appeared, ready for action. These men were the pinnacle of efficiency. Each would carry, no joke, 5 huge boxes of books at once. They couldn't even see what they were doing, yet they carried these boxes without drama. At about 8:10 Bench Buddy arrived, and I was like "Dude, we're practically DONE."
Two trips down the freight elevator and the truck was loaded. I think this entire process took 45 minutes. The superintendant was actually friendly, and informed me that we'd have been kicked out of the building at the end of July anyway. They are going to turn it into condos - gut out the inside and build an atrium so that all of the units will have windows on two sides, build a pool, a gym on each floor. They are also going to build 4 more luxury highrises on the waterfront. I am glad I got out of there before I was (a) kicked out and (b) part of this horrid redevelopment.
These movers were INSANE. They packed my stuff in the truck in the most efficient, organized manner. They compacted it to what seemed to be 1/10 the original volume. I thought "Huh, apparently I don't have any stuff."
We piled into the truck - D and I in the front with Bench Buddy between us, and the two movers in the back. We hit traffic. Lots of it. D was a stress case and I was worried about the dudes in the back, but soon we were at the new apartment. There was the part where my key to the building no longer fit in the lock and where I had a panic and started buzzing all of the apartments in the hopes that someone would let us in. Luckily the super was home (she is the most adorable little old lady you have ever met) and rushed me new key to the recently fixed lock in which most people's keys no longer worked. Within 45 minutes the truck was empty.
Two hours total. Two hours total, with a traffic jam! These movers reaffirmed my faith in the human race. They could have dragged the move out since they were being paid by the hour, but they didn't. They did a wonderful, efficient, stress-free job. I think I carried maybe a total of 15 boxes. D and Bench Buddy were very helpful as well.
It was awesome.
I was convinced, given how smoothly it went, that something would happen with the piano. "It won't fit. They will drop it. They will put it in the truck and drive off with it. It's going to be a disaster." I've been having such a string of bad luck as of late, so I knew something would go wrong.
I went back to Williamsburg and ran an errand, picked up Last Bagel from The Bagel Store, and walked back to The Loft. As soon as I walked in, I got a call on my cell from the piano movers who were stuck in the stairwell because they'd taken the wrong elevator. Immaculate timing. Five minutes later the piano was outside the building after being transported in the passenger elevator.
They said "We didn't have lunch. We want a bagel." I rode with them in the truck - sitting between them on the truck bed which was made of plywood - and went back to the Bagel Store. We ate the bagels in the truck and then headed into the city. Our plan was foiled by "No Trucks on the Williamsburg Bridge," so we had to take the Manhattan Bridge.
Our plan was further foiled by a flea market that was most likely not the Hell's Kitchen Flea Market.
When we got to the new apartment, one of the mover's said "You want us to get it through this door?" when he saw the entrace to my apartment. I'd measured the doorway, but I hadn't accounted for the fact that the door doesn't open all the way due to a weird wall angle in the kitchen. I scrambled for the tape measure and said "Umm... I really think it will fit." He said "Well, I guess we'll bring it up and see what happens."
Of course. Of course!
I said "Hypothetically, let's just, like, pretend for a second. If it didn't fit, what would happen?"
They laughed.
These guys were great. They were hilarious and unique and told me all sorts of stories about piano moving and carried my piano up the stairs in about half an hour. There were grunts and screams and scrambling, but they got it in there and helped me decide where to put it. And also presented to me my next creative project, which I will begin as soon as things settle down in the new apartment.
And then it was finished, and D and I were left alone in the new apartment.
My commute into work this morning was 25 mintues. Only 25 minutes! I took my sweet time. Looked around. Looked futilely for a potential spot at which to buy groceries.
I shall divide this post into three segments:
1. The Move
2. The Unpacking
3. The Aftermath
1. The Move
At 7:45 am on Saturday, D arrived, focused, to take the bed apart. I began dragging things to the freight elevator. At 7:55, the movers I'd hired via Craigslist arrived. They proceeded to get lost in the building, as everyone does, and then appeared, ready for action. These men were the pinnacle of efficiency. Each would carry, no joke, 5 huge boxes of books at once. They couldn't even see what they were doing, yet they carried these boxes without drama. At about 8:10 Bench Buddy arrived, and I was like "Dude, we're practically DONE."
Two trips down the freight elevator and the truck was loaded. I think this entire process took 45 minutes. The superintendant was actually friendly, and informed me that we'd have been kicked out of the building at the end of July anyway. They are going to turn it into condos - gut out the inside and build an atrium so that all of the units will have windows on two sides, build a pool, a gym on each floor. They are also going to build 4 more luxury highrises on the waterfront. I am glad I got out of there before I was (a) kicked out and (b) part of this horrid redevelopment.
These movers were INSANE. They packed my stuff in the truck in the most efficient, organized manner. They compacted it to what seemed to be 1/10 the original volume. I thought "Huh, apparently I don't have any stuff."
We piled into the truck - D and I in the front with Bench Buddy between us, and the two movers in the back. We hit traffic. Lots of it. D was a stress case and I was worried about the dudes in the back, but soon we were at the new apartment. There was the part where my key to the building no longer fit in the lock and where I had a panic and started buzzing all of the apartments in the hopes that someone would let us in. Luckily the super was home (she is the most adorable little old lady you have ever met) and rushed me new key to the recently fixed lock in which most people's keys no longer worked. Within 45 minutes the truck was empty.
Two hours total. Two hours total, with a traffic jam! These movers reaffirmed my faith in the human race. They could have dragged the move out since they were being paid by the hour, but they didn't. They did a wonderful, efficient, stress-free job. I think I carried maybe a total of 15 boxes. D and Bench Buddy were very helpful as well.
It was awesome.
I was convinced, given how smoothly it went, that something would happen with the piano. "It won't fit. They will drop it. They will put it in the truck and drive off with it. It's going to be a disaster." I've been having such a string of bad luck as of late, so I knew something would go wrong.
I went back to Williamsburg and ran an errand, picked up Last Bagel from The Bagel Store, and walked back to The Loft. As soon as I walked in, I got a call on my cell from the piano movers who were stuck in the stairwell because they'd taken the wrong elevator. Immaculate timing. Five minutes later the piano was outside the building after being transported in the passenger elevator.
They said "We didn't have lunch. We want a bagel." I rode with them in the truck - sitting between them on the truck bed which was made of plywood - and went back to the Bagel Store. We ate the bagels in the truck and then headed into the city. Our plan was foiled by "No Trucks on the Williamsburg Bridge," so we had to take the Manhattan Bridge.
Our plan was further foiled by a flea market that was most likely not the Hell's Kitchen Flea Market.
When we got to the new apartment, one of the mover's said "You want us to get it through this door?" when he saw the entrace to my apartment. I'd measured the doorway, but I hadn't accounted for the fact that the door doesn't open all the way due to a weird wall angle in the kitchen. I scrambled for the tape measure and said "Umm... I really think it will fit." He said "Well, I guess we'll bring it up and see what happens."
Of course. Of course!
I said "Hypothetically, let's just, like, pretend for a second. If it didn't fit, what would happen?"
They laughed.
These guys were great. They were hilarious and unique and told me all sorts of stories about piano moving and carried my piano up the stairs in about half an hour. There were grunts and screams and scrambling, but they got it in there and helped me decide where to put it. And also presented to me my next creative project, which I will begin as soon as things settle down in the new apartment.
And then it was finished, and D and I were left alone in the new apartment.
Sunday, May 08, 2005
Smooth
I am posting this from my new apartment, wherein I am hooked up to a mystery neighbor's internet connection!
Life is good, folks.
Good good good.
The move went as smooth as it possibly could have.
D was a rockstar boyfriend.
I feel like this place is supposed to be my apartment.
I am not at all unpacked. Did some cleaning, put together the bed with much strife, basically assembled the bedroom, went grocery shopping for staples and realized that local "market" does not have staples such as any sort of cereal that I find edible, watched Star Wars Episode II with D, went to bed and couldn't sleep due to thinking about unpacked boxes and city sounds (note to self: purchase white noise maker) and things to do. So many things to do.
But I am in my new apartment, living alone, in Manhattan.
I'll write more later when there isn't much to do.
One thing, though. My apartment, thankfully, falls into the category of "Apartments That Seem Bigger With Stuff In Them."
YES.
You must all visit.
Life is good, folks.
Good good good.
The move went as smooth as it possibly could have.
D was a rockstar boyfriend.
I feel like this place is supposed to be my apartment.
I am not at all unpacked. Did some cleaning, put together the bed with much strife, basically assembled the bedroom, went grocery shopping for staples and realized that local "market" does not have staples such as any sort of cereal that I find edible, watched Star Wars Episode II with D, went to bed and couldn't sleep due to thinking about unpacked boxes and city sounds (note to self: purchase white noise maker) and things to do. So many things to do.
But I am in my new apartment, living alone, in Manhattan.
I'll write more later when there isn't much to do.
One thing, though. My apartment, thankfully, falls into the category of "Apartments That Seem Bigger With Stuff In Them."
YES.
You must all visit.
Friday, May 06, 2005
What Did People Do Before the Internet?
I'll tell you what they DIDN'T do. They most certainly DID NOT sell their lava lamp via Craigslist. No sir!
I just sold my lava lamp for $15, and while the people were here buying it, I convinced them to buy my pink lamp for $10 and Roommate's Papasan chair for $20. And they want my red IKEA cabinet and will pick it up on Sunday!
Good thing we're all mad at D and are not hanging out with him tonight, because if we were, we'd be $25 poorer and begging strangers to buy our stuff on Craigslist!
I just sold my lava lamp for $15, and while the people were here buying it, I convinced them to buy my pink lamp for $10 and Roommate's Papasan chair for $20. And they want my red IKEA cabinet and will pick it up on Sunday!
Good thing we're all mad at D and are not hanging out with him tonight, because if we were, we'd be $25 poorer and begging strangers to buy our stuff on Craigslist!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
