Documentation of the day.

I joined the gym about a week ago. There’s a tiny little gym about a block from my house that costs way too much. In order to justify the ridiculous cost of a NYC gym, I swore I would go. For whatever reason, I’ve been going with a dedication matched only by the religious fervor of my youth. I’ve been 9 out of the last 10 days and instead of dreading it like normal, i’m loving it. My blood sugar is more stable than it has been in months. I have more energy. I’m on a more normal sleep schedule. And I feel hot. Really hot. I’m hoping this isn’t just the honeymoon stage and that I can keep it going.

Sometimes when I’m on the treadmill or the elliptical machine, I pretend that that smiley trainer guy from The Biggest Loser is cheering me on. (I only watch that show because Becky makes me, I SWEAR.) I hear him in my head, hollaring at me. “30 more SECONDS, KL! FINISH STRONG!” And of course, I’m totally the biggest loser and all the other overweight contestants are in awe of my focus and passion.

So on the three block walk to the coffee shop where i like to work, I was hit on 6 TIMES.  All of them brown, all old (WTF?).  it’s a good thing i didn’t do my hair otherwise i’d be a hazard onto myself.

Despite being swamped with work as of late, I’m a little short on cash (too much work makes for not enough time to invoice and harass people for money, not a good combination). So when I got a call during the tail-end of my work day as an office drone to moonlight as a server at a bar/coffeeshop I frequent, i took on the opportunity. Slinging drinks was once a big part of my life and while I have no desire to be there again, it’s sometimes fun to feel the mindless rush of waiting tables.

Well, this night was sure to be eventful seeing as I had already worked a full day and wouldn’t get out until 5am. Almost 24 hours straight of working. The crazies always come out at night and this night was no exception. (see this post for examples of the late night crazies.) The night started out super slow and came to a dead halt around 12am with not a soul in the coffee shop. There is a pub crawl that comes through every Tuesday so we were all gearing up for the indunation of drunk tourists. One gentleman had been there with a very well endowed lady (tits popping out EVERYWHERE would be a better description but it’s NYC, the standards are different). He ran up a moderate tab, paid cash leaving up 10% which of course annoyed us, but whatever. Comes back 10 minutes later and asks for his change. Bastard. So no tip, not a CENT. He left but hung out in the neighborhood to hit up the local drug dealers and further his substance abuse. When he wanders back, totally drunk and stoned and whatever else, he begins to hit on me.

Because yes, cheap ass drunks are totally my type.

I ignore his advances mostly, redirecting the conversation when I sense he’s going to ask me for personal information. Of course, he doesn’t sense my distaste of CAD (cheap ass drunks, reference above) and keeps trying. Eventually he corners me and asks, “So what does a guy have to do to get a date with you?” At this point, I’m annoyed and decide to give him the truth.

“I’ll go out with you if you can answer one question for me,” I respond. “Why don’t you tip your servers and bartenders?”

The CAD just laughs, tells me he had a rough day, as if that was reason enough to ruin mine and take money from my pocket. Even this does not dissuade him from trying to kiss me goodnight and giving me his phone number at the end of the night.

Soon after, the drunk Europeans from the pub crawl rush in like a hurricane. Something about drinking and vacation has always been a bad combination. The whole back section of the restaurant (which by the way is very tiny and not at all private) was filled with tourists making out. Eventually they cleared out and I assumed they left. Find out 20 minutes later, no they haven’t left. They’ve all relocated to the bathrooms. (which are also super mini.)

Also had a 10 minute conversation with an Ecuadorian, totally in Spanish. I always enjoy the opportunity to practice my Spanish and you think I would learn to be more careful, that speaking someone’s native tongue to them is really really hot. (I never learn.) Guess I made a friend because he wouldn’t leave, kept asking me where I lived and when i finished. Lucky the manager kicked him out and I was able to get a friend to walk me home.

What else….oh yah! Some Moroccans walked out on a huge tab after arguing about how “the owner told me he’d be sending out some dishes for us!” a few more zero tippers (they should all be casterized). a few more unwanted advances. Blah blah, all in a day’s work.

So. Office Drone. It’s actually not that bad. It’s a little long and the drive can make me want to run over pedestrians, but only if it’s longer than normal. It’s generally either 40 minutes or two hours. Obviously two hours brings on that whole running over pedestrian urge. But the people I work with are really sweet. I’m learning what it is that I’m expected to do and I’m also learning how to do all the stuff i said i could do in my interview (i read the book). The first day, I was being introduced to everyone and they kept calling me “the new IT girl”. In my head I was all, IT? I’m not even sure what that means! But so far so good.

I like most of the work I’m doing. I see it as being a good jumping place for other things that I want to do. It’s not as much programming and web design as I would like, at least right now. But what I really like is that fat paycheck at the end of each month. Oh! and my three monitors even if they are connected to a PC.

I’ve been meaning to post up photos of this rather eventful summer and finally got around to going through them. In attempts to not overwelm you, I will put a few up every couple days. But here’s the first batch from “Week O’ Wedding!”, part two of “Year O’ Weddings and Major Life Changes!” (Side note: no one I know is ever allowed to get married again. Ever. Or least don’t ask me to attend or be in the wedding.)

First…the blushing bride herself.

The Garter Toss

Some of my new Favorite People

While in Seattle, I was able to spend more time with Angie, Bethany’s best friend and her family. They are wonderful people and were a part of making my visit memorable.

The Night Before