I never understood the whole rush to the airport thing. You just end up sitting bored for about an hour while staring at your shoes. In this case, I've preoccupied my time with this blog. I'm about to board flight 153 back to Orlando for a visit. This will be my first visit back home since I had moved to New York. I wonder how things have changed? Probably not much. Still the same hot, muggy place I left. I think 5 days is enough to leave the busy city, relax some, and head back to appreciate my new home.

I wish I could have brought Dori with me. In about 3 hours we will be on complete opposite sides of the country. I told her how my friends would be so jealous, and my family would be so proud that I found such a catch. Nothing will be different though. This will still be the same temporary skype relationship that is has become about 3 weeks ago when she left me for Los Angeles.

I got a text on my way to the airport saying that lunches are now done at my restaurant. Forever. This means I will hopefully and finally be a nighttime bartender! Unless they don't need me anymore? Which would be a stupid move on their part considering I know the whole operation better than anyone that works there. I can run the bar alone at this point. So I am looking forward to coming back and see what happens with the new changes in the restaurant.

Short post. I am looking forward to seeing everyone back home. I wish the surf was better. I miss the water. My dad is going to give me shit when he sees my newest tattoo. I'm off to get some sun.

Coffee shop hangs. One of the most peaceful, yet fun things for me to do here in New York. Browse the internet, people watch, get involved in conversation with strangers, and straight up just enjoy myself (as my sister would say.) Today is a rainy day. I'm hanging out in the front at the bar in the window as I wait for my laundry to finish. It's traditional for me to come here to the Pacific Oasis Cafe while I wait for my clothes. And since we're on the subject of laundry I just want to add that I have been washing my clothes with water for the last 3 months. My local laundry mat offers free detergent with a wash, but it seems as if the bottles have been being filled with water. Well, I'm an idiot. It happens.

I'm still bartending at the same restaurant since 3 months ago. Money has been not-so-great and I'm starting to really feel the hole in my pocket as I open each paycheck on Fridays. I can't be the lunch bartender (lunch-tender) forever. Something has to change, and soon. Other than that I still enjoy my work environment. I don't mind the labor that is included with the job or the long hours. I just want what everyone else in the world wants - to become a millionaire.

I got myself involved in a relationship again. This time, for the right reasons. I stole the heart of a beautiful, Hungarian 27 year-old as I treated her to coffee and eggs one morning. She told me that is what reeled her in, and she was hooked. I guess I fall easily considering I was hooked when she stuck her hand out and said to me "Hi, I'm Dori. It's nice to meet you." I have never felt intimidated by a woman before, but this was one I really had to impress and plan to continue to impress as long as she's in my life. After many days and nights spent together she headed to Los Angeles, California for a few months to spend with her sister before she goes back to Budapest. She has fallen into the same boat that I did before I moved to New York. There was always a plan to leave only I was just never a part of it. I'm okay with the time spent apart though. I have plenty to keep myself busy with little downtime.

My Place Midnight - the name of my new band. Sounds sexy, right? What happens at my place, midnight? Well, why don't you find out for yourself. I found these guys off a craigslist ad. About 6 weeks later I finally got myself into the studio for a first practice. We ran through some songs and searched for that chemistry each band needs in order to succeed. One of the guys is from Jacksonville, and knows some of the same people I do from home. Small world. The band is a pop-rock/punk style with 2 female vocalists. Different from anything I have done before but I want to have an open mind and appreciate playing different music than what I am comfortable with. Each member of this band is extremely talented. My ticket to fame? We shall see. Maybe I'll become a millionaire.

I'm making my first visit home on June 8th since I had left back in December. I wonder how different it will feel since I have grown comfortable with my new home. I'm looking forward to spending time with my family, friends, and the ocean. Also, it will be nice to have a short break from all the chaos here in the city. I'm ready for some home cooked meals, and my fathers back-rubs. Bring it on!

Once again my Dell lap top has been inactive. I am very excited to say I spent my financial aid on a computer that is worth it. I grabbed a Macbook pro 13" on Sunday evening. Let me tell you how much easier life is with a nice computer. No more worrying about programs crashing, errors, virus's, and other things that don't make sense to me.

So since the last time I wrote I have started a new job in the city again. This time I am behind the bar. I finally found my place in the service industry. A friend from the last restaurant now manages this bar so he brought me in. I started as a barback and within 3 1/2 weeks I was told they love my productivity and want me to be lunch bartender when the restaurant opens for lunch starting the 30th. So I have been working my ass off the last few weeks learning drinks and our cocktail menu. I start this Wednesday and couldn't be more excited. I am getting tipped out for stocking the bar with garnishes and juices, and whatever I make during lunch. I will be the only bartender so I am a little nervous but we all have to start somewhere. Also, I finally have a job where the entire staff is like a close family. No one stresses each other out over small things. We all work close together as a team and have been quite successful. Even management is great! Who would have ever thought? Not to mention I have finally been commemorated for my hard work. They've noticed!

Spring has begun. We had a few days in the 60's and 70's but we are now back in the 30's. It snowed a little early this morning. I can't complain. There's no air conditioning in my apartment. I wonder how summer will be in the heat? There is talk about how humid it gets here but I doubt these people have lived in Florida and understand what humidity and heat is like. I am excited about it. I miss shorts and t-shirts.

So I keep having dreams about how I am in Florida visiting and I end up getting stuck. All I do is miss New York and end up panicing about paying my rent and taking care of my apartment. I guess that says something. I think it means I have found my place. I miss my friends and family a bunch. I think about it all the time. But in the long run I am much happier where I am. At least for now.

I am starting to build up what is somewhat a circle of friends. A few weeks ago I went to a 2 day music fest. A 2-floor venue in Bushwick called the Party Expo. The venue is what used to be a party store, I guess? Basically It's just a big room with a bunch of old chairs on the first floor, and a big attic on the 2nd floor. 1 band would play and then the other band would start on the other floor. I saw lots of amazing new talent as well as some friends from Orlando. My friend in Go Rydell ended up playing where the room was filled with....Orlando kids? Yea. About 15 of us. That was random. It was great seeing old faces. At the same time I made a bunch of new friends who are also involved in music.

Since I have missed a whole month of updates due to a piece of shit computer - there's a lot that has happened over the month. I, for once, am very excited about my life. I have found what I am looking for and it can only get better. I can only move forward. There is nothing to get in the way at this point. Hopefully I don't find love soon because that shit always drags me down.

Last Sunday I was let go from my job. I knew I had a reason to be worried with how much information I was asked to cram in such short notice. With only around 2 months of serving experience in a small family Italian restaurant, I was not fit for the position. That's okay. Those mornings sucked anyways. The commute was awful. With the amount of stress put on me the money was not worth it. I was also out applying elsewhere. At the end of the day it shows what a great salesman I am to walk in there not knowing a damn thing, and selling myself for hire.

My next goal is to slip myself into bartending. I like to screw off too much anyways. I prefer to show the customer a good time rather than give excellent service. It's all about the experience right? My favorite bartender from the restaurant had quit and went elsewhere. He told me to come in and apply once he gets settled understanding what I was going through. Last Tuesday I dropped him a line and went in. After what felt like 30 seconds I was pretty much hired as a barback. So next week I will hear back with details and hopefully get started. It wont be many days a week, but it's a start. The restaurant is filled with red as if it were valentines day year round. And once again I believe the manager was gay which usually means he's gonna hire me anyways. I prefer not to use business or restaurant names in my writing for obvious reasons. Just like I don't add employees on Facebook.

Also I have put in a resume and cover letter with a large company (WSJ) for the new Ipad only newspaper. Thanks to my Journalism professor from last semester, he recommended I go and drop in to see if they have any work for me. I am still waiting to hear back, but don't expect to. Fingers crossed I somehow get in with this company and move forward from there.

So I have been spending quite some time with a certain girl lately. Her name is Sally Ann. She works in the kitchen with room service of the same hotel that I just came from. After talking with her about the best hot toddies in Brooklyn that I got with my sister while she was visiting I decided to invite her to show her that I know what I am talking about. I made friends with the dishwasher and felt he was the safest means as to keeping everything quiet (dating within the company). I wrote my number down, handed it off to him, and asked him to hand it to her with a vocal message "You know who this is from. Hot toddies later." It was about 10 minutes later I received a text from a new number that read "very smooth." I prefer that employees stay out of my personal life. So later that night we met up at that very bar and hit it off pretty instantly. Sally Ann is from Alaska but spent a lot of time in Idaho. She has a bright personality and a lot to say. She always keeps me entertained with her dance moves on impulse, or witty remarks. Nothing is boring with Sally Ann.

Fast forward to this week. So about 4 days ago we had a long trip back from her place to mine. Late night train hours are very tedious. With about 30 minutes in between trains we knew we'd be bored. So we grabbed some beers from the closest bodega and headed back to my apartment. What an adventure. Starting off on the G train we figured out that that line only goes half way before you have to get off and catch another G line the rest of the way, after we started going back towards where we started. Add another 30 minutes home. So we get off and realized were being followed by a crazy polish lady yelling "Sker-mer-horn" at us which happens to be the stop we are transferring at. We're trying to ignore her and are laughing at the situation before realizing she's lost and needs help. So of course she sits down next to us and will not stop talking. Not understanding a word she's saying we just nod and say yes, and continue to sip on our beers. Finally the G comes. We get off and go back 1 stop to where we transfer. Add another 30 minutes home. 2nd G comes and we are still bothered by this woman we just so happen to be babysitting. Finally make it to "Sker-mer-horn" so we hop off for our transfer. Sally Ann has to find a bathroom. After waiting 20 minutes we run up the stairs and find a "bathroom" for her. We run back downstairs and realize everyones gone. Of course we missed our train. Add another 30 minutes home. So we grab a seat on the staircase and start chatting. Being completely oblivious to our surroundings a cop walks by us and posts up against the pillar about 20 feet from us. I whisper in her ear "hide your beer there's a cop." We hide them thinking we are safe until he decides to bust us. Add another 30 minutes home. We each received a 25 dollar ticket for open container, which was concealed. I ended up laughing in front of the police for the situation and tell him "this is so stupid" while chuckling. Looking at Sally Ann I mention taking a cab the rest of the way. I tell her hopefully the cabby hadn't been drinking, and hopefully there's no drunk drivers out on the road. Basically being a smart ass implying we weren't drunk, or obnoxious but pointing out where the real dangers are. What a joke. We finally ended up at home around 5 in the morning. What a night.

Tonight I am seeing Doomriders; which is a death metal band that I have been listening to for around 4 years now. It will be my first time catching these guys. I'm hoping the show isn't sold out but the word is there are plenty of tickets at the door. They're playing at Union Pool (the bar with the taco truck and fire pit out back) so it should be fun. After that, my friend Dallas is in town visiting his girlfriend Arielle who just moved up here recently. I have known them both for a long time now -- Dallas longer.

I try to stay up to date on writing, but It's hard when you have your father pushing you to write more so he has something to be entertained with. After a few emails pressuring me to do my "homework" I finally decided to update. I am not in the mood, nor do I feel like I should be credited for todays blog. This is more for him rather than myself to make him "happy." Expect comments below about that. Or maybe I'll just expect more emails.

Starting all over again

So maybe this job isn't working out for me the way I thought it would. My days are being cut in half. Sleep four hours, work nine, take a four hour nap, wait til' midnight, repeat. I have a serving position in mid-town Manhattan with a highly respected company, but that does not mean I am being treated fairly. I meet with my other server for the day in the mornings at 6:15 a.m. where they are either drunk, or crying like little babies about how early it is for them. Give me a break. It has been one month and I am tired of being treated like the "new guy." If you are looking for work, head over and take my position. The requirement is New York experience, and amateur at life. Because sub-sequently I do not meet their needs after all. So what have I done to change it? I went out today and handed my resume over at the Brooklyn Bowl. Turns out they are ALWAYS hiring. Hurray! Not to mention the hours are the typical hours any 25 year old would love to work. 5-2 a.m. and just in time for a few drinks afterwards. The gig seems more fit for my personality. Bowling, drinking, dancing, concerts, food, pretty girls, etc. Who knows. It's just another job just to get by. Just so I can be walked on more, talked down to by managers, and not commemorated for my hard work. Life is exciting.

The winter is getting colder. February is the worst month to get through. We're expecting another blizzard sometime tomorrow or Thursday morning so I was told. Also this blizzard should be worse than the first one we had right after Christmas, which made one of the top 5 worst snow storms in New York City. But the message that was relayed to me was from a friend who likes to over-exaggerate at any given moment. We'll see if we get some flurries. With the weather the city is slow. Not much is happening around New York this time of year. Unless you have some money to spend you're basically stuck in your home blogging in the middle of the night. There's your entertainment for the day. I really need some new excitement in my life.

School has been taking up a decent portion of my time. Statistics is pretty basic stuff so far. If you have good common sense then you should be able to handle this math. I can pick up the calculations pretty quick, but it's the online program that annoys me. If you miss one problem then you have to get through the rest of it just to start over and get full credit. My last math class. Just 3 more months. There are worse things.

Each day I continue to search for an opening into some sort of career for myself. My eyes are always open, and I talk to everyone I come into contact with. I'm tired of feeling lost. All my friends around me have some sort of position with a fancy title. I want to do something with myself that requires deep thought, time, and strategy. Enough with this filling up water glasses, clearing and setting down plates, yes and no sir's, and wiping asses. This is a joke to my life and my dignity. I was bitched out last weekend for not giving some asshole his pastry basket with his breakfast. That's because when you order toast, you don't get a pastry basket, fucker. Read the menu. I feel embarrassed.

One more day off tomorrow before another 5 days of wanting to kill myself. Plans - Walk around Prospect Park with a large cup of coffee and enjoy the minimal daylight we have here. Hit the gym while I can. Do some more homework. And then hang out with a cute girl who thinks I am too hard on myself. She's sweet.

I want to add that I am not depressed. I am really happy to be here and still figuring things out for myself. I am just not happy with my job nor the lack of money for what I put up with. Sure I was excited when I picked up the job because that was my first goal once I set foot in New York. Once you see it for what it is then you take what you learn and move forward. Find something better. One-up yourself. Maybe I'll take my friends advice and apply at the gay strip club.

LonelyAndPathetic.com

Snow will be the death of me. I waited 25 years to see snow and now that it's here I want it gone. The only moment it is fun is when it's falling. After that when the city turns into a giant filth-flavored slushy, there's nothing more annoying than trudging your way through thicker parts and nearly falling on your ass every time you want to cross the street, which in this case is about 58 times per day. It is difficult to get to where I need to be. It makes me unmotivated to get to my gym or to get things done in general. The only thing positive about the snow is having someone warm to sleep next to.

While on the subject I want to mention I have signed up on one of those internet dating websites. Let me tell you what a joke it is. You want to talk about feeling lonely and pathetic - sign up on okcupid.com where you, and the rest of the community can look for a quick fix to your problem. I think I have spent 5 or 6 days and I'm already over it. I prefer the healthy way to dating where you meet someone, become interested, and eventually get over that bump in asking them out. I went out on one real date off of there. She talked too much, listened to nothing I said, had terrible teeth, and a terrible sense of humor. The best part about the date was drinking to a point where I could tolerate her. At the same time I guess I can't really complain because I did meet a really cool friend through there. She's an amazing singer with a great personality. We agreed that if anything we'd be awesome friends. I hope she was serious.

So that is the end of my 5 day internet dating spree. Not for me. I am too old fashioned I guess? Thanks to my good friend (which I will keep anonymous) for the advice on signing up. Good luck with that man.

So my new job has been real hard on me. 3 breakfast shifts in a row this weekend. This completely gets in the way of my life long dream at being a party animal. I was told I technically am not able to receive dinner shifts until I take the menu test. Makes sense. But I still can't help but feel like I'm just being taken advantage of. I work hard and provide great service. After being chewed out recently because I missed the ingredient "air-dried ricotta" in the mixed beet salad during a pop quiz in front of the staff, I lost a little motivation. That night consisted of me working harder, but being a bigger dick to customers. Funny how that works. I want to mention sales were better as were my tips. Do I keep up with the "I'll show you" attitude? Time will tell.

I miss playing music. My heart will always be there. Every day I believe I have a little moment to myself where I miss that energy and creativity within myself that music pushes out of me. It is just too hard these days with how much money and time is put into something and only receiving something so subtle such as a few chills throughout your body. I'm sure eventually I'll make my way back into playing again, but for now I just don't have the time or financial stability. Plus I have to remind myself I am here in New York for different reasons - to establish a life for myself. I can't go back to the dreadful, sweaty armpit of the United States.

I am still very happy with the fact that I am here. Every day is a new adventure and some sort of stupid task that annoys me. In the end I've learned something new. Ive learned that either this or that pisses me off or that this or that makes me happy. In the end this is exactly what I wanted, and it only gets better. After weeks of taking the trains in different directions I have figured out the system; for the most part. I am looking forward to the spring and summer seasons. I'm excited to putting on my cut-off jorts, and black vans so that I can ride my bike around prospect park finally.

Nothing motivates me more to write than waking up from a 6 hour nap at 12:30 in the morning. The last 2 days have been exhausting. A very busy Saturday night at work, followed by a Sunday morning breakfast shift. Basically that means I had a 3 hour break in between shifts over night where a friend of mine in the city let me crash with her. One employee was fired today, as well as a no-call no-show so of course I got stuck to work through lunch too. I slept 1 hour during my break and worked another 10 hours. As I said...exhausting. But lets back up.

I have had issues with my computer recently which disallowed me to be able to write. A lot has happened in the last few weeks. For example, I started my new job. I work as a server in mid-town Manhattan in an up-scale Italian cuisine type restaurant. This was the first job I had applied for when I moved here and they hired me pretty quickly. Since then I spent a week in training and another week on the floor selling. The job requires more dealing with people and less about the "staying busy" aspect which most restaurants around Central Florida expect. No more constant wiping tables and doors! The staff is really fun to be around. Each shift we undergo a wine tasting before we start so we can sell the bottle. Also, we are given a free meal before starting. With that said the job is pretty awesome...so far.

So I witnessed my first snow ever. Turns out my first snow had been one of the top 5 blizzards recorded to ever hit New York City. I remember seeing the first of snow flurries and almost immediately hopping on my bike to ride around and experience it. I quickly found out that is hard to do considering my eyes were being pelted by the falling snow. After about 10 blocks I made it back home and locked up. Later that day I went over to target which took me twice as long. By that point I believe we had 6 inches that had already fallen, which means I was only trudging through the snow to get to wherever my destination was. By the end of the day there were cars everywhere stuck on the roads with nowhere to go. I had even put on my boots and tried to help a couple out front dig themselves out. It was useless. By the next morning all public transit was shut down, cars were buried underneath the snow, and New York City was on foot. I ended up walking to my brothers which is a little over a mile from me. We went to fort greene park to do some sledding. We found some cardboard boxes and went down the hills on them. The wax makes for some good sliding! By the next day I was sick of the snow. That was enough.

A week ago was my company's holiday party. This was probably the most fun I have had since I have been here. At the top of the new Gansevoort hotel was an open bar with free food. There was around 150 people there all involved with the company. The view was incredible for all I saw was building with pretty lights. I remember starting out the window alone and thinking to myself who would have ever thought I would be here today in New York City at an amazing company party. I reflected on my life and how much it has changed within the last month. The rest of the evening was filled with alcohol and dancing with the rest of my staff. Some older woman gave me her number and wanted to get coffee. Each day after that for a week I wondered if I should call her or if I was too incoherent to make a judgement if she was attractive or not. I left it alone. It's too dangerous for an awkward date.

I finally have my room put together. Buying a bed was a nightmare. I ended up buying from Ikea just like any other college kid. The furniture if affordable, and attractive. I purchased my bed frame, and mattress. I immediately started building once I got home only to find out I need base board to complete the process. You would think Ikea would either sell everything in a package or at least inform you that you will need base board to complete your bed. So I made another trip to Ikea for the board which took 3 hours out of my day. Reading further in the directions I also realized the frame did not come with a mid-beam. Back to Ikea. Another 2 1/2 hours. All in all I think I had spent 8 hours shopping for my bed.

Friday night I went to my first ever show in Brookyn. My good friend Lisa invited me out so I joined her with nothing else to do that evening. The venue was someone's basement apartment which had a loft. It was very similar to the house party scene in Can't Hardly Wait. 5 bands, everyone had brought their own beer, and everyone going crazy. There were crowd surfers, beers being thrown around the room, and everyone was dancing having a good time. Keep in mind this is in a tiny 1 room loft apartment. This is one of the many reasons I love punk rock. There's no staff to regulate. When you let the people off on their own then they will have a good time and there will be no problems. Everyone takes care of each other. It's like family no matter who you are or where you are from.

I'm going to try and get some more rest before my shift tomorrow night. Work has been going well. I have learned so much in the last 2 weeks with this company. I can't believe it. Soon I will be a wine expert. Who would have thought?

OH MY GOD I GOT LOGGED IN. Expect a blog update soon, but first...winter classic. Go Pens!