How could my life get any better?!

I am such a state of shock today. Everything has been going well in New York and at NYU so far, but I had an amazing day yesterday.
First, I had my auditions for Dangerbox, NYU's only improv group. They're pretty well-respected around campus, and do some quality long-form improv (my favorite). 60 people showed up to audition, and they only had 4 spots open on their team. They started up the auditions and kept narrowing it down, until finally there were only 7 people left. They told us they would e-mail us with the results...and I totally got in!!!! I can't believe it, it's so ridiculous! Out of 60 people, many of them upperclassmen, I was one of the 4 they chose. The troupe does a lot of cool stuff. They perform on campus, obviously, but they also perform occassionally at the Upright Citizens Brigade and they also go to festivals (Dirty South, Chicago, etc.). If you want to, you can check out their website at www.nyu.edu/clubs/campanawanna. I'm really looking forward to working with these people!
So, my awesome night continues...after auditions, I ran back to the dorm, grabbed some stuff (and Jon, a guy on my floor) and took the R train up to Rockefeller Center. I spent my night on W. 49th, waiting in line for tickets to tonight's season premiere of SNL. Now, we won't know if we actually got in line until later tonight when we go, but I'm number 21, which is pretty promising, I think. They let in a different number for each show, because it all depends on how many people the host and musical guest bring. Speaking of which...the host is Dane Cook and the musical guest is The Killers. It was actually really fun to just hang out all night on the street....but it was also very, very cold. Like, I think less than 40 degrees. I saw cast member Jason Sudeikis when he came out of rehearsal, and I talked with him about seeing him in Asssscat and about improv and stuff. I saw him again when I was coming out of the McDonalds bathroom, and he said hi to me again...I felt pretty special. At like 1 or 1:30, Dane Cook FINALLY came out of rehearsal, so of course, everyone ran up to him. I got my picture taken with him, and wished him luck on the show, and he said he appreciated that and he hoped I got in. It was very cool.
So, I slept the entire day today, but I think that's justified. Jon and I go back tonight at like 10:15 to wait in line again and hope we get in. I can't believe I might actually get to see SNL tonight, LIVE!!!
I'm basically having an extremely good weekend. I'm very happy. And sort of shocked. I haven't really eaten any real food in a long time, so I think I'm going to hit up a dining hall. I'll update this after tonight!

SNL this weekend!

I can't believe it's the weekend again! This week went by so quickly, which I suppose is a good thing. Plus, this weekend should be an exciting one.

The weirdest thing happened to me today. It was another gorgeous day, so after my Writing class, I decided to walk through Washington Square Park on my way back to my dorm. When I got to the center where the fountain is, everything was blocked off by police tape, and there were police cars everywhere. As I got closer, I realized there were men in FBI uniforms with guns. My immediate reaction was, "oh crap...terrorists...great." I approached a guard and asked him what was going on. They were....filming a TV show. Haha. Everything was fake. I felt stupid. But I think what I thought was justified...it looked really scary!

My birthday is just over a week away! I'm so excited! The big one eight! Alex and Colette are coming down from Boston, and I know it will feel really good to see them again. I don't realize how much I miss people until I think about it. Next weekend will be so fun. I'm trying to find a fun place to eat dinner at for my birthday. I've pretty much stuck to my dining plan because food is such a costly (and unneccessary) expense. Today, though, I did go to Chiptole...first time in a long time...yum. It was $1.50 more than in Minneapolis!

My article was finally published in the Washington Square News. It just kind of went in, with no edits. I guess it's exciting to have my name in a college paper, but I'm still deciding if I want to be a staff writer...

I'm so tired...and it's going to be a crazy weekend. HOPEFULLY I'll get into SNL! Wish me luck!

Let's hit up Magnolia and mack on some cupcakes...

No doubt that bakery's got all da bomb frostings,
I love those cupcakes like McAdams loves Gosling!

Haha...oh, Chris Parnell and Andy Samberg rapping on SNL...hilarity.

Anyway, clearly, I went to the Magnolia bakery today...and truly, eating one of those cupcakes is like having a little bit of heaven in your mouth. Oh. My. God. It's so chaotic in there, though, because it's such a popular, famous place. And there's a per person cupcake limit! That made me laugh. I got a little box of 4 cupcakes, and I've only eaten one, but they're just sitting there, and...yummm. The frosting is just pure butter and sugar, it's amazing. Amazingly bad for you, too. However, the bakery is about a mile from my dorm, so I walked, and that means I got some exercise, so it all evens out in the end...

Last night's Asssscat was, as usual, amazing. This week was Amy Poehler, Matt Walsh, Jason Sudeikis, Liz Cackowski, Rob Riggle, John Lutz, Dan Bakkendahl, Miriam Tolin, etc. Really funny people, essentially. Just crazy improv. I enjoyed myself. And attempted to read the Iliad in line. I hate that book. I'm sorry. I just do. I can't help it.

Saturday is the season premiere of SNL...so I plan on staying overnight on 49th Street on Friday night to try to get standby tickets. We'll see how that goes. I have my improv troupe auditions Friday night from 6-8, so I'll have to catch the subway immediately after that, so I can get up to 30 Rock and get in line asap. Dane Cook is hosting with musical guest The Killers. Should be a crowded standby line...I'm new to all of this, though, so I pretty much need to go to scope out the situation and stuff.

Okay, I need to go grocery shopping, and eat another cupcake. Maybe. OH! And write a paper! Haha.

How can you tell if you're in New York City?

I was walking through Washington Square Park on my way to auditions for the sketch comedy troupe, and while walking through said park, I saw:

- a photo shoot in progess
- a "prayer station" (aka a table with Christian pamphlets)
- a man dressed in an elf costume playing the flute
- an old woman petting a squirrell.

Yep. I live in New York.

Busy busy busy

Wow, have I ever been busy...these past few days have gone by so quickly and I go to bed exhausted every night. I suppose that's a good thing.
Classes have been going well...lots of discussion, so it's hard to go to class tired. Especially when I have to critique Plato and Socrates' opinion on the importance of ethics...when, quite frankly, all I really want to do is fall back into my bed. Actually, I had sort of a scare, because yesterday I didn't have class until 12:30, so I decided to wake up early to get some homework finished. After finishing everything I needed to do, I decided to lay back down for a little bit...we all know what happens when we decide to just shut our eyes for a minute...I woke up again at 11:37. I needed to shower, get dressed, try to get on an elevator and walk 6 blocks to class. Gooood times. Amazingly, I made it, and still had time for coffee. It freaked me out because when I was waiting in line for my glorious, glorious coffee, and still in a panicky mood to get to class, I heard a voice behind me say, "Grabbing some coffee before class?" And it was my professor. She's very nice, though. She looks like if Brooke Shields and Kathie Lee Griffith had a kid. That throws me off a lot when I'm trying to listen to her lecture.
I'm really enjoying my Writing class because it is exactly what the title implies...writing. We write a lot about why we write and why writing is special to us. It's a lot of journal-type writing. So I write ABOUT my blog sometimes. It gets confusing in my head sometimes. We're writing our first "essays" (we're supposed to treat them like magazine pieces, like something you would find in the New Yorker) on why we personally write, including anecdotes, etc. I keep writing pieces for that class that seem to have one of two topics: strangers or the joy of sharing my writing with others. So...basically, once again, Emily ends up looking creepy. Without fail. :) I guess that's what my paper is going to be about, how I write about my desire to connect with strangers or essentially find similarities and make connections, and how I share my writing with others to connect to people through emotion and experience. We'll see how THAT turns out...I did write a pretty cool segment about the strangers I found myself surrounded by one day on the R train uptown. I was proud of that, I think I'll end up including that in my paper. It's sort of creepy...but cool.
I had my first rehearsal for "Antigone" today. Sooo long (3-8), but it ended up being pretty fun. I think I'm going to like being a part of this production even though right now there isn't a lot of set direction on how the play is going to go. It's a more modern version, but the directors don't know how they want to do the set and costumes yet. I love my character. I have quite a big part in the first scene, I essentially open the play after the chorus sets up the plot, and she's just very much this old lady nurse. I'm going to have a Cockney accent. That's good times. I tried it out in front of everyone randomly and everyone loved it, and the director is a big fan, so that will be fun. The director seems to like how I'm reading the part so far. We perform November 11 and 12 I think? Basically, only like 8 rehearshals. Not long at all. We're performing at the historic, off-Broadway 13th Street Repetory.
I audition for the NYU sketch team tomorrow. And the NYU improv group next Friday. And after going to the GSP Theater Club meeting, I sort of volunteered and was chosen to be Vice President. The cool thing about that club is that we don't perform, it just exists to take advantage of all the different, not so mainstream shows in NYC. We're going to go see shows and get actors/directors/etc. to come and talk to us. And I'm Vice President...?!? Am I ever going to have time for anything? Nope.
Speaking of which...I have 200 pages of the Illiad to read for Monday. YAY!! Just want I want to do...I'll probably just watch a movie instead. :)

Sunny day...yay!

Today is a good day. When I woke up abruptly at 7am this morning to a horrible song on my iPod (it was that song from "Zoolander"...if you've seen the movie, you know what song I'm talking about, and you can probably sympathize), I assumed it was going to be a horrible day. But hey, the weather is gorgeous; it's very sunny, with that perfectly blue sky, and a nice fall breeze. I finished all my homework (I wanted to shoot myself last night when faced with 60 pages in "A Basic History of Western Art" and, what my Middle Eastern Studies teacher referred to as "Muslim porn"). But it's all read. And the appropriate responses have been written. All by 9:30, my first class, Cultural Foundations. I was soooo tired when I got there, but, as usual, I made myself sit in the front row so that I couldn't fall asleep. We started going over the Geometric vs. Archaic styles and how one can distinguish the two in Greek vase painting...THRILLING!!! And, because my life is composed of awkward events strung together, I decided to raise my hand to point out one of the differences. Keep in mind, I'm the only one in the class that the professor refers to by last name...so he says, "Mrs. Schmidt? I mean, Miss Schmidt? Frau Schmidt? FRAULEIN SCHMIDT!" With this really heavy German accent...? It was really weird. And I was uncomfortable...and I answered the question, but then throughout class, he would keep saying, "This all goes back to what Fraulein Schmidt was saying..." It doesn't seem like it's that weird, I guess, but I was soo tired and just not needing extra attention this morning. He's...an interesting person. BUT! He did end class a half hour early. Which adds to my happiness of the day.
Another reason why I'm in such a good mood today is in regards to the news I got last night. Last Friday, I auditioned for the GSP production of "Antigone" (GSP is the school I'm in within NYU...General Studies Program...yes). I wasn't really expecting to get in because GSP is a big school, I'm a freshman, and I didn't really get into many plays at SLPHS. I thought I should audition, though, to show interest. But last night, I found out that I was one of maybe 24 people (I think he's double casting) who was cast! I am playing the part of "Nurse". It really is my dream role...haha. It will be fun, though, and I just can't believe I got in! So many people auditioned, and while it's sort of time consuming (every Friday, 3-8), it's going to run right before Thanksgiving, which is pretty soon. We're performing in a NYC historical landmark theater, I guess it's a blackbox, which is very different and cool. I'm excited to get started and meet some new people! Who knows what else I get involved in! So far, I'm going to interest meetings for the GSP Theater Club, NYU's sketch comedy group, NYU's improv group (OF COURSE), and a community service program called "Kids Acting Out" where I'd go into NYC public elementary schools to teach theater and improv to kids. Very exciting. And...maybe I'll keep writing for the newspaper? I don't really like the way it's run, and I don't think I could see myself ever being an editor (they live there...I have too many other interests to devote ALL that time to a stressful daily newspaper). We'll see, though.
Oh my goodness, tomorrow is the season premier of THE OFFICE!!!!!!! I couldn't be more excited. I'm so happy. The cliffhanger at the end of last season was painful...Jim and Pam! They are the most adorable couple, they need to hook up...the tension is getting frustrating for everyone. Which reminds me... "LOST". How could they kill off my favorite characters? This is not fair. I can't give anything away, just in case, I know my parents have yet to watch season 2...but they FINALLY put an adorable little relationship on the show, and a steamy relationship, and they have to kill BOTH of those relationships off. I say that's not fair. Ugh.
I found a coffee place that I love way more than Starbucks. I think it's a chain, but it's absolutely adorable, and the lattes are stronger and richer (they're made with an older machine). It's called Dean & Deluca. It might be more expensive...it's so cute, though! And right on east 11th and University! Half a block away! This is dangerous...
I need to do laundry.

I promised myself I wouldn't do song lyrics...

and yet here we are, and I'm finding in my delirious nature of a 1:30am homework break, I must pass these song lyrics on to any and all who read this blog. This song is so beautiful, so rich, I can't stop listening to it. I didn't even know it was on my iTunes playlist, I'll have to credit Kaitlin for putting this on a CD for me without me ever realizing it. And now I CAN'T STOP listening to it. It's worth it to download it because the music adds a lot. Sorry, I promise I won't put song lyrics in here again, it's just I think it really sums up how I feel right now (except for that whole "find that girl you love" part...I choose to interpret it differently and apply it to my life in a different way...I like boys).

"Sweet Mistakes" by Ellis Paul

Pop the cork, a champagne glass,
Raise to the future, drink to the past,
Thank the Lord for the friends he cast,
In the play he wrote for you.

And if you love the girl, man, light up a torch,
Blaze a trail to her front porch,
Kiss her til your lips are scorched,
Til the rain comes down on you.

CHORUS
Bless your sweet mistakes,
That crumble you down to your knees
That brought you to this place,
Changing you by degrees,
When change was just what you needed.

So if you live your life in a three-piece suit,
In a cocktail dress, or combat boots,
You pick your path and you walk your truth,
And the world will come round to you.

It's a long, strange ride, I can't tell you why,
But there's a place in your pocket where peace can abide.
You pull it out, it's a compass, a guide,
And it will put a little soul on you.

CHORUS

And in this wild, blue world,
There is a soul-weavin', fine-feelin' girl,
But you've got to walk in paradise to find a pearl,
If you only believe, you'll get what you need.

Conquer your fear and you'll master the game,
Life is always and never the same.
Use a little faith to light the flame,
And I know you'll connect to you.

CHORUS

Pop the cork, a champagne glass,
Raise to the future, drink to the past,
Thank the Lord for the friends he cast,
In the play he wrote for you.

Coffee + more coffee + Diet Mountain Dew = Emily can't sleep, so she writes in her blog

I have had more caffeine tonight than I have had in a long time...and because of that, not only am I extremely happy, but I'm also extremely awake. Therefore...I blog.
I started my previously discussed job last Friday, and I think it was rather successful. Despite the rain, we still walked the 6 blocks or so to her school, and got a bagel along the way, and everything was fine. I have to say that the school was absolutely adorable, and seeing little New York kids with their tiny, individual umbrellas totally topped little kids in France with berets...I never thought anything could top that on the cute spectrum, but tiny New Yorkers with umbrellas totally did. Go figure.
Mallory and I had a hilarious run-in with a crazy person on the street last night on the way to the movie theater. This guy on heroin (?) noticed Mallory, liked what he saw, and began following us. He kept asking Mallory, "Come on, what do you look for in a man? What would make you happy?" To which Mallory responded, "Guys who leave me alone." But since he WOULDN'T leave us alone, for like 4 blocks, and since Mallory is a crazy theater major, she decided to humor him and carried on a conversation with him. They talked about how he's just out of jail, and he really loves his girlfriend (I believe he called her his "lovebird") but she doesn't want to talk to him. Mallory suggested he write her a letter, and perhaps include a poem. This was all very amusing to me, since the crazy guy was not bothering me. When we got to the theater, he kissed Mallory's hand. She spent 10 minutes washing her hands. Haha. I love New York.
Today was an extremely fun day, despite the fact that I had a difficult time squeezing homework in. Jessica was in town with her school for the Save Darfur rally in Central Park, so I took the 6 train up to 5th and 89th to meet her. As we already know, subways make me so extremely happy because I love people-watching so much. So, anytime I can take the subway, it is worth way more than the $2 I pay. I met Jessica and we took the train back to the Village, and she got to see my dorm and eat at the dining hall...a truly gourmet NYC experience, obviously...then we took the train back up to Central Park so she could go to the rally. It was really fun seeing Jessica...I miss people from back home, probably more than I realize...I don't sit and wallow in my lonliness or anything, but when I'm reminded of how I'm not close to anyone I've known for more than 3 weeks, it's sort of shocking and scary...? Not scary, but just intimidating. Anyway, it was fun seeing Jessica and experiencing that quick banter that exists only between old friends.
After getting some packet-reading done (yay for the history of Islam!), I went to the Washington Square News meeting (do I really want to write for the paper? We don't know). I then hailed a cab and headed up to my new favorite place, the Upright Citzens Brigade theater on W. 26th and 8th. Yes, I understand that some might feel that waiting in line for 3 hours to see an improv show is ridiculous and perhaps even crazy, but it makes me so incredibly happy. While waiting for a ticket to Asssscat, I read the Bible (go Cultural Foundations!), which probably looked really odd, but what can I say, I'm a student. I got a better seat than last week, and, oh my goodness, SUCH A GOOD SHOW!!!! Amazing!!! Amy Poehler and Seth Meyers and Liz Cackowski from SNL were totally performing...plus Scott Adsit and Jon Lutz and a guy from the Daily Show and a guy from commercials that I know I've seen before...amazing. Improv makes me happier than anything ever. It's not even that this improv is especially good, their connections are really amazing, and in longform improv, that's really an essential part of the art form of improv, so I'll give them that. And because it's not the BEST improv I've ever seen, it's almost better, because I know that I can do exactly what they're doing and I have no doubt in my mind that I could get up onstage and no one would think I didn't belong there. So it's my weekly entertainment AND a weekly confidence boost. And it just amazes me that Amy Poehler is 2 rows away from me, and I'm there, and they're doing IMPROV. I just have a really, really good time. And it felt good to go alone. I liked it when my roommates came last week, but this way, I can just enjoy it myself and not worry if they are having a good time. I liked hailing a cab myself. AND I got to read the Bible. What could be better? Haha.
I decided that there are two things I need to do for myself to get anywhere with improv, which is what I'm most passionate about: 1. I need to lost weight. When I see female improvisers here, they are all skinny. While this does not mean that only and all skinny improvisers are successful, it's just that it helps. Fat guys are funny. Fat girls are sad. It's just a fact. 2. I NEED to take classes at Upright Citizens Brigade. Once I commit to all the NYU clubs/activities that I'm going to do, I need to figure out a way to get a good amount of money to take classes. They're expensive, but it's worth it; I want to ingratiate myself into the UCB community, plus I REALLY miss DOING improv, and I need to keep my skills sharp. Yes.
Um...I have a 9:30am class...I should go to bed? A few final notes: if you are bored, go to www.overheardinnewyork.com, it makes me laugh out loud, especially when I don't want to do work. Also, to my Stevie Ray's friends, I affectionately say, "WTF?" Okay. Goodnight!

Here are reasons why Emily is happy today

Despite the craziness of my week, today I am happy. Very happy, for a variety of reasons.

1. My Social Foundations class was cancelled because the professor is sick, so I didn't have to read Plato last night!!!!! That's the best news ever. Plato is classic, and I suppose that's good, but I have a hard time reading philosophical texts. The piece I was supposed to read last night was "The Apology." Well, Plato, I DO expect an apology if I'm going to have to read it.

2. I got a job! Sort of...it's a really unique situation, but I think I'm going to be really happy with it. There was an ad posted in my mail room, so I called, and I basically just got the job because I was the only person willing to do it. Basically, every Friday morning, I get up and go over to the apartment across the street from 7:30-8:30 and stay with an 11 year old girl until her bus comes. I get $10. And something will motivate me to get up on a day when I don't have classes. So, last night, I went over to their apartment (which is half a block away), and visited with the mom and the girl. It turns out that this girl was adopted from Russia only 3 years ago. She speaks perfect English, but she had a really, really difficult life in Russia (she has fetal alcohol syndrome, she had to beg, she was abused, the orphanage she was put into was really horrible). She's so sweet, and really fun, but she just has some relationship and social issues, obviously. I am really happy to have this opportunity, though. Tomorrow I'm going to actually walk her to school and get breakfast with her on the way. Yay!

3. I feel all grown up, because I've had to organize everything regarding my toothache. Two days before I left to come here, I had some cavities filled, and since then, I've been in a lot of pain, especially in the morning. I found a dentist here, had to figure out if he accepted my insurance, try to coordinate between my parents, this dentist and my dentist back home. A lot of phone calls. But now I have an appointment today and it should get taken care of. I'm very proud of myself.

4. I FINALLY got the interviews I need for the article I'm writing. FINALLY!! 'Nuff said.

I need to shower and do something productive. Then I need to go to my writing class.

Don't let the bedbugs bite...oh wait, you can't stop them

It's been such a long time since I last wrote...not really literally, I think it's been maybe 5 days or so, but here I'm experiencing new things every day, and I want to write about all of it! I've been pretty busy, though, hanging out with my roommates, reading massive ammounts of information regarding early art history and the BIBLE. Haha. And despeately trying to contact that random girl for my article. Frustration.
However, besides all the homework and class, I have been having such a good time. I'm pretty proud of myself for adjusting this quickly...after seeing my emotional breakdown when we got to the hotel 2 weeks ago, most people would've assumed I would have dropped out already. Alas, I have not...it is weird, though, to find that place of knowing that I'm away from home and knowing that stuff is going on while I'm not there, and just accepting that and looking to what I can do in my new environment to make it like home. I seriously love my room. I spend more time here than I thought I would. And I guess to sort of brace me for a potential bad roommate, a lot of people told me that my roommates probably weren't going to be my best friends...but they are. I get along on different levels with all of them. Mallory even slept with me last night!
Okay, that needs some explanation. The only thing I don't like about my ROOM right now (and, actually, the entire 16th floor)...BEDBUGS. It's disgusting. And a serious problem. Mallory had all these bites up and down her arm, and she had to go to the health clinic, and it was really bad and just gross gross gross. So she took all the bedding off of her mattress, and she was going to sleep on the floor last night, but she wouldn't stop complaining (she only had towels for blankets...haha...) so she somehow managed to fit on my bed. It was actually pretty hilarious. But the bedbugs are awful. We're all paying so much for this space, that shouldn't happen.
September 11th was yesterday, that was different for me. It's definitely a new experience to be in the city for that day. It was a beautiful day, blue sky, fall breeze, but there was still a chilly aura about the city that I can't explain. I mean, people on the street weren't silently crying all day, but there was just a feeling of bittersweet sadness. Of rememberance. Not something I would have felt in Minneapolis. In the morning, we watched Mayor Bloomberg's speech at ground zero, and we participated in the moment of silence when the first plane hit, 8:46am. That gave me chills. The busy street outside was quiet, everything stopped. And, our dorm is right next to a church, so bells went off. It was really moving, and just eery...then, as the day went on, I began to realize how incredibly close we are to ground zero. I don't know why, but I always consider myself living in the east village, but it really is lower Manhattan. Below us is SoHo, then Chinatown, then the financial district. On September 11, 2001, they evacuated NYU because of the dust. The firehouse by one of my dining halls, Palladium, was one of the first to respond. Ironically, I had to read a journal entry from someone who survived being in the towers for my writing class, and he describes getting out of the building and walking up to Union Square...which is 5 blocks north of me. I would have been right in it. And then, last night, they turned on the lights in place of the towers, and that was what made it the most real. The lights were so close, I had to crane my neck to look up at them, they were just right there. The 5th anniversary of 9/11 was more meaningful to me here than it could have been anywhere else, obviously.
On a lighter note...Sunday night was the most fun I've had since being here. I was in serious need for an improv fix...it had been way too long since I saw it. So, once again, I convinced Jenny and Mallory to come with me to try to get into Assscat at the Upright Citizens Brigade. We got their earlier than the week before and sat and sat and sat and stood in line and waited and we GOT TICKETS. The tickets are free if you're one of the first 200 or so people to get there. There is always a sickeningly long line, but this time we actually got tickets, numbers 115, 116 and 117. I love that place. I'm not exaggerrating, I'm being completely serious, I love the UCB. They did some quality improv that made me want to jump up and get on stage, just to be a part of that group energy. I love it when I can see improvisers meticulously calculating when to cut a scene, when to add something, make an entrance. I was in 7th heaven. It was sort of sick. But what made the improv even BETTER...the people performing...Matt Walsh (he started the theater with Amy Poehler and 2 other guys, he's on that Comedy Central show "Man Bites Dog"), Jon Lutz, a guy from "Best Week Ever", Jason Sudeikis (new last season to SNL), and Horatio Sanz were there to perform! Ahh! Semi-famous people doing improv! Emily loves it! They just did simply monologue-based montages, but I really couldn't be happier. Apparently, Amy Poehler performs there almost every weekend (she was there when we didn't get it...boo...), so I'm now going every Sunday night. My roommates....aren't. It was a long time to wait for tickets, and then it didn't get out until like 12:30, so I'm going alone. Every Sunday. Transportation might get a bit expensive, but at least the show's free.
I had more I wanted to write, but I don't think people want to read more right now. That's cool. These posts have been seriously long, so I'm sorry about that...once I get writing, it's hard to stop me. Okay. I need to: shower, get dressed, go to Social Foundations. But first, if anyone religiously downloads music, or as access to it, you should download "God Is My Friend" by Bob Schneider. It's my favorite song right now, I can't stop listening to it, the chorus makes me sad and happy at the same time. Bye!

Day o' Syllabi -- part 2

I'm going to need to find a better way to organize my Mondays and Wednesdays, especially when it comes to eating. Because there were some serious issues with that today. Cultural Foundations was from 9:30-10:45, so I just didn't eat before that class. I'll come back to that class content in a minute, after I'm done ranting about food (typical...). Then, I had a bit of break because my next class, Near Eastern Studies, didn't start until 12:30. So, I pretty much walked back to my dorm and...I don't even know what I did, I think I sent out some e-mails? Scoured Facebook? Something unproductive. Then I went to my Near Eastern class, and I wondered why I was feeling sort of faint and just sad in general. I was SOOO hungry! Plus, for some reason, that class is located in a building that isn't really even on campus very much, so I especially enjoyed the irony of the word "near" being in the class title...this is a pointless rant, but I guess I can just say I spent my whole morning/afternoon craving some Quiznos action...for some reason, that sounds inapporpriate. I'm sorry. I don't know.
Okay, class content. As previously stated, I was rather nervous for my Cultural Foundations class because we already had an assignment (NOT FUN) due, and the professor wrote a sort of sarcastic e-mail about how we were all probably enjoying orientation too much, and we needed something to take our minds off of fun. However, I really like this professor, he is very intense and his way of speaking takes me back to the good ol' junior high days with Mr. Kendrick. While Social Foundations is more of a history of philosophy, I guess Cultural Foundations is a basic humanities course? We don't know. Haha. All I know is that I'm reading the Bible for both...PARTY!! My Near Eastern class is basically a Middle Eastern history course focusing especially on the devolpment of culture...I'm very excited about this. I love cultural and social history. My professor is Iranian and obviously very passionate (I sense a theme with NYU professors...) and I really look foward to that class. As of right now, it seems like one of those classes that I'll just enjoy rather than stress about, which is unlike my "foundations" classes.
So, it turns out my suitemate who is never here, Jae, is now friends with Haley Joel Osment? I don't even know. She was here briefly this afternoon, and she was talking about how she went to the MoMa with her friend and HJO...random! I guess he bought a print of "Starry Night". Jae thought that since he's a celebrity, he should have a more exotic taste in art. I think that most people everywhere can like Van Gogh, regardless of occupation or hobbies.
I had another new experience today that I NEVER want to have again...Jenny and I decided to go into this clothing store after dinner, because we are both in need of some "going out" tops. So, I pick out a plethora of cute tops to try on, I make my way to the dressing room...only to find that it was missing something very crucial. Were there lights? Yep! Mirrors! Plenty of them! Doors and walls to create separate stalls? NOPE! It was an open dressing room. This made me sad for a variety of reasons. I'm surrounded by tiny women while I'm trying on shirts that ended up being complicated to get on and off AND were too small for me....plus this little boy keeps running around the dressing room, oh my God. Just bad. Very bad. Awkward. More awkward situations for Emily! Haha.
For some reason, music makes me extra nostalgic today. Bob Schneider, Cat Stevens, Van Morrison, Goo Goo Dolls, David Gray, James Taylor...they all remind me of someone or something that I miss. It's sad, but almost comforting to listen to those songs.
I think tomorrow is FINALLY supposed to be sunny and warm. We'll see if the weather people lied again.

Day o' Syllabi -- part 1

Well, my first official day of college is over. And I'd like to think it was rather successful. I didn't have trouble finding the buildings, I was on time to both classes, and I actually enjoyed them, despite the fact that it was mostly an hour and 15 minutes of reading the syllabus and getting a feel for what the professors are like. I am very confident that I will do well in my classes because none of them involve math or physical science, and I like my professors. I know it was only one class, but I think I got a good feel of how they teach and what they expect. Today I had Social Foundations from 12:30-1:45 and Writing from 2-3:15. My Social Foundations prof. just seemed really passionate about the topic and not in an arrogant or intimidating way...it's just like she is really excited about philosophy and the roots of religion and ancient thought and wants to share it with us so that we are excited about it, too. She reminds me a lot of Ms. Page in that way -- really informed, intelligent, excited and passionate about teaching. So that's good. My Writing prof. seems really laid-back and nice. There isn't a really strict grading rubric, no final exams, and most of the writing is personal narrative and free-writing. My favorite! Finally, a class where I can write something other than an essay! Tomorrow I have Cultural Foundations from 9:30-10:45 and then Near Eastern Studies from 12:30-1:45. Not bad. I was really stressing about my assignment due tomorrow for Cultural Foundations, because I know no matter how I do it, it won't be how the professor wants it...that's the point of the assignment, all of us will do it differently, and we'll get poor grades on it so that the professor can make an example of how he expects us to do assignments in the future. That makes it rather discouraging to sit down and try to seriously analyze a very verbose article (full of run-ons...probably 5 periods in the whole 30 pages) and answer critical questions. Maybe I just worry too much about format of an assignment...we'll see. I'm rambling. I'm nervous for that class.
If it doesn't stop raining soon, I'm going to expect Jake Gyllenhaal to show up with the entire cast of "Day After Tomorrow" to wait out the flooding and intense cold that is soon to follow. Because seriously, this weather is screwed up. We had ONE nice day (yesterday) that, I'm proud to say, I experienced to the fullest. Mallory, Alinane and I took the subway to 57th and spent the day walking through Central Park. I love it there. It was crowded but so gorgeous and just...full of life. The trees, the people, the sounds of the city. It was a perfect Labor Day. Too bad we're currently experiencing a HURRICANE. Boo. The only things that make the weather okay are season 2 of "Lost" and Simon and Garfunkel. Not at the same time, mind you, but they both help make me like my dorm even more.
I have to go to bed. Early class tomorrow! Plus I think my roommates are trying to sleep, and the clicking of the keyboard can't be a peaceful sound. Night!

Lost in "Lost"!

It's hard to believe that classes start on Tuesday. Am I ready to experience serious stress again? I don't think so.
I've had a lazy couple of days, but I think the weather is mostly to blame. Yesterday felt like a hurricane, with dark clouds and cold rain and 40 mph winds. Walking 4 blocks to the dining hall was fun...good thing I like eating. To occupy ourselves, Mallory introduced her dvds of the first season of "Lost" to Jenny and me. I can't really decide if that was a good idea...Jenny and I got completely hooked. We watched all 24 episodes in 2 days. Pretty sick, I think. But it's so addicting!!! It's like a drug. Now I have to wait until Tuesday when season 2 comes out so I can find out what's in the hatch and why the "others" took Walt. Ahh!!!
I've also spent a lot of time waiting in lines, which I am getting sick of. On Thursday, I met a girl from the 14th floor and we took the R train uptown to see the VMA red carpet action. Or...lack thereof. We couldn't get anywhere near the red carpet because it was sort of in Rockefeller Plaza, and everything was super blocked off. It was very chaotic. That night, a bunch of people were going to the Avalon club for the VMA after-party, and if you got in before 11pm, it was free...however the line was all the way around the building and we knew that we would have to end up paying, and it was $30. Waaaay too much for me. So...waiting in line in vain. Also, all my Welcome Week activities fell through on Friday, too, so that involved more sitting around. Tonight, I had my heart set on seeing the ASSSCAT improv show at the Upright Citizens Brigade, a free show that SNL and other famous people sometimes show up to perform in. However, when we WALKED all the way there (approximately 28 blocks), the line was super long and we were told we weren't going to get in. So we walked all the way back, and Jenny and I decided to get some Coldstone...waited in line for another 30 minutes for that. So, needless to say, I'm happy to be back in my cozy room wearing cozy pants, painting my nails and blogging. :)
Despite the fact that classes don't start until Tuesday, I already have homework. I have to read an article and answer questions for my Cultural Foundations class. Also, I went to a meeting for NYU's newspaper, the Washington Square News, so now I'm writing an article that's due in a week. I'm sort of stressed out about it. I feel like I'm still adjusting to my life here, and now I have to kick it into high gear to accomplish things besides watching "Lost". I am excited, though, to get a chance to write for the paper right away. It's a good way to get my feet wet (more like getting held underwater) in the pool of journalism. Ahhh....metaphors...
So, I've seen 2 famous people already. I knew the time would have to come when I would see Haley Joel Osment, because he's in Tisch and lives in the dorm 2 blocks from mine, and that time was Friday. I was walking on Broadway by a deli, and we made eye contact, and it was crazy! He's all tiny, with a little beard, like a hobbit. Haha. Then tonight, when we were walking back from UCB in Chelsea, we saw Sean William Scott. At least, we think it was him...Chelsea is a fun neighborhood. I feel safe walking around there at night...I NEVER feel like I would be raped or anything...if you know what I mean. Haha. Good times.
Today was the first sunny day in forever, which made me really happy. We decided to go to Palladium for brunch, which is on 14th and Broadway. We were lucky, because there was an adorable little street fair on all of Broadway this morning, right outside our building! I didn't buy anything (I'm poor), but it was fun to look at all the jewelry and food and trinkets and crap people were trying to sell. I wanted to buy the shirt that said East Village, because that's my little neighborhood! It's still really hard for me to believe that I'm living in NEW YORK. The fact that I can hop on the R train and in 5-10 minutes be at Times Square blows my mind. I love Midtown Manhattan so much, I think that if classes are going well and I still find my Fridays open, I'm going to try to get a job at a Starbucks near Rockefeller Center. The subway isn't too expensive, and it would be a fun area to work in. My favorite. :)
Okay, I guess everyone is going to bed, so that means it's time to get off the computer!