How do you measure, measure a year?

Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes
Five hundred twenty-five thousand moments so dear
Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes
How do you measure, measure a year?

Today is my one year anniversary in New York! Here is how I measure my first year in this crazy city.

• Three apartments



• One Internship



• Two Jobs



• 12 Metro Cards



• Three roommates



• Three Ballets



• Three Museums (Pathetic!)



• Nine Celebrity Sightings



• 20 Broadway Plays (Seven of these I saw more than once. I really need to stop doing that! I promise to not repeat a show until I have seen all the ones that are on my priority list)



• Two Professional Sporting events (I really need to work on this next year)



• 19 Movies (I know this is unacceptable. I promise to work on it. Maybe I will go see a movie this weekend)

Not bad. I love it here in the city. It does get lonely sometimes, but I’m starting to find ways to keep me distracted. Luckily for me there are plenty of them.

I haven’t quite figured out how I’m going to celebrate this momentous occasion, but I’m sure a play will be involved. On my first whole day in the city, Sarah and I went to see the Pirate Queen. Unfortunately Sarah isn’t here to relive our memorable first day, but I think it is necessary to honor our first day with a play. All I know is that it will have to be a cheap show. A year in this city is expensive.

Miss Rhode Island, please describe your idea of a perfect date.

That's a tough one. I would have to say April 25th. Because it's not too hot, not too cold, all you need is a light jacket.
I know I'm off by one day, but this describes today perfectly. The weather has been absolutely beautiful this week. Spring is here! This is a pic that Kort took in Central Park today.

Time Fly' s When You're Having Fun

Monday: Started watching the Parent Trap, while moving all music from old computer to new. I officially placed an order for a way cute new apron.

Tuesday: It was beautiful out so I walked home from work. Made a few little detours to see where my new doctor’s office is. I also did a little needed shopping on the way. Tired to call my sister and tell her some important Broadway news.

Wednesday: Found a dentist and made an appointment. I’m such a big kid! Sixth month anniversary at my job!

Thursday: A man at my work ordered his four-year-old son a plain frappuccino at our new coffee bar. I’m still a little disturbed by this. LOST is back! I finally got a hold of my sister.

Friday: My new Nike shoes and apron have been shipped! YAY! I walked home via fifth avenue and the park. What a beautiful day!

Weekend plans: A fun little craft, the dentist, the gym, laundry and finish the Parent Trap. What a great weekend I have ahead of me. I might devote some serious time to sleeping as well. We shall see.

Broadway: Macbeth - Something wicked this way comes!

I went to see Macbeth with a couple of friends last Friday. I’m not what you call a Macbeth fan, but it was staring Patrick Stewart and I am a fan of him! Anytime there is a celebrity that I know of in a play – I am so there.

I have to confess that I really, really enjoyed the play! I have only seen a high school production of Macbeth, so you can image how in awe I was with such a big production. I’ve never seen anything like it! Patrick Stewart did an amazing job! He is the perfect Macbeth. It took me a little while to get use to Lady Macbeth, but by the end I was really impressed with her performance as well.

This production of Macbeth was set in the 1950s. The set was simple with plain white walls, a sink, a fridge, and a few tables. They projected static black and white images on the walls. When Macbeth started to go crazy, blood started swirling in cool designs across the walls. I have to warn that it was a very bloody play. They only “murdered” two people on stage. All other killings were done off stage or the lights went out before they did it.
You know a play is good when you can’t get some of the images out of your head. The scene when Macbeth kills Lady McDuff and her kids is one I will never forget. It lasted less than a second, and yet it stayed with me. All scenes with the weird sisters (the witches) were unforgettable as well. They do a good job.

When I left the show I was a little overwhelmed and speechless. I have never seen anything like it! If you don’t mind a little blood, then you should go see it. There will never be a production like it.

Farewell, old friend, you've served me well!

I decided to buy a new computer over the weekend! My old dell computer, William (yes, I named my computer William), started having problems. Do I blame him? No, not at all. While he’s only five years old (haha), I did drag him across the country a few times, back and forth to campus everyday while at school, and a long hot summer in the Corn Crib (craft place at camp). He never really was the same after camp. He stopped playing movies and started being difficult in general, such and just shutting down randomly. Annoying!

I had been thinking/talking about buying a new one for some time now. But it wasn’t until after I couldn’t play CD’s anymore that I got tired of the old dinosaur. I went down to Best Buy and found a cheap computer (on sale!). All I needed was something to check the internet on and get pictures from my camera to my external hard drive (I’m not going to tell you what I named it).

I love my new computer. It weighs about half what William does, it’s much faster, and it’s Pink! I’m quite happy with my little purchase. Oh, and another fun fact is that it cost about $900 cheaper than William. I’m still deciding on the proper name. Any suggestions are welcomed.

What Not To Wear

I decided that it was about time to start working on finishing my room. I invited my roommate, Kort, to go fabric shopping during my lunch today. We decided to meet at the corner of west 39th and seventh. I called her when it was time and asked her what side of the street she was on. She told me what corner she was on and that she and Boots (the little girl she nannies for) where wearing fancy blue and pink hats. I spotted them across the street with their large Easter like hats! They looked so cute. Boots’s hat was so large you could hardly see her face. I walked across the street and started raving about have fabulous they looked. Kort then noticed that Stacy and Clinton from What Not To Wear were on the same corner about to cross the street. Clinton caught a glimpse of Kort and Boots and flashed a big smile in our direction! It was really cute! It was the perfect moment to start our quest for the perfect fabric.

Fly, yes. Land, no.

Sorry, the video is a little loud!

Here's the skydiving video! I have to apologize for the choppy video and weird audio. There was an audio error when I copied it and the video itself started out choppy. There was a little chunk of like three minutes where I’m just sitting in the plane. Boring! I started editing and that made the music really funky. Sorry! I am not a movie editor and I don’t have the best program.

Feel free to laugh! It won't hurt my feelings. I laugh when I see my cheeks flapping around in the wind!

Goals For Tonight!

Learn how to get a movie off of A DVD – I’m half way there.

Learn how to put a movie that was taken off of a DVD and put it on my blog

Learn how to do this with mad skill and ease:



You will know by tomorrow if I was able to achieve the first two goals. You’ll have to ask me in person if I complete the last one.

Texas – Day 2: Ezma put your hands in the air!

(Sorry Sarah for copying your post title…it’s just so good)

On my second day in Texas we decided to take it easy and not participate in such heart pumping activities. So we decided to go to Fiesta Texas Six Flags! This was my first Six Flags experience and it was amazing. I think that the rollercoaster’s were worse than the skydiving, to tell you the truth. We went on the Rattler, and wooden rollercoaster. When the cars went around the corners it whole thing swayed. I was such a baby. I started screaming before the rollercoaster even started its decent. I’m such a wimp when it comes to big rides, but I did still go on.

After a full day of rides, Sarah and her parents took me to Salt Lick. It’s an amazing BBQ place just outside of Austin. We had to wait an hour to get in, but it was so worth it. It was by far the best BBQ I have ever had in my life! It was absolutely unforgettable. Texas has ruined me. Now I will always crave Texas BBQ!

Texas – Day 1: This isn't flying. This is falling with style!

I’m alive! Sorry I wasn’t more specific about my Texas activities in the “will” post. I wasn’t 100% sure if we would actually participate in such a life threatening outing and didn’t want to come off as a wimp if we didn’t. What did we do?

We went SKYDIVING! That’s right; I jumped out of a plane and saw the beautiful state of Texas from the sky! It had to be one of the most amazing moments of my life. If I could do it again right now, I would! I had the jump videotaped but I don’t get the DVD until the end of this week. Once I get it I will try and figure out how to get it up on here so you can see it. Basically it’s 55 sec of me screaming and then 5 min of me say, “Oh, wow that was amazing” over and over again while we parachuted down. It’s still kind of a funny video.

If you want a nice little summary of what I did on my first day, please read Sarah’s blog. She did a nice little write-up.

Last Will and Testament of Erika

(Due to the severity/high risk of the activities that I will be participating in during my trip to Texas, I was advised to write a will. Thanks for the tip Sarah. Hopefully I will live through it to blog about it. If not, thanks for reading).

I, Erika, of New York City, declare this to be my will, and I revoke all other wills and codicils.

I appoint my mom, Lynette, to serve as the executor of my estate. If my mother should fail or cease to serve, I appoint Oliver and Smea to serve together as the executors of my estate.

I give fist dips on all personal effects that can be found in New York to my roommates, Leah and Kort, if they survive me by thirty days. If they decide that nothing I have is of worth then they are to give all belongings to my parents. If they too find my belongings to be of little worth, then they are to give it to DI or throw it in the trash - their call. If my parents do not survive me, I give all those items to Kari, Oliver, and Smea who survive me by thirty days, to be divided between or among them as they may agree. Kari will probably get most of it, because the other two are cats.

Any other loose ends that I’m forgetting here my mother will tie up for me. Thanks Mom!

Jobs/Crafts Half Done!

I have been trying to be a little craftier the past few months, but it’s just not working out. I get cute little craft ideas and rush out and buy the supplies. Unfortunately, I always start them but then run out of time or supplies and set them aside for the next weekend. By the time the next weekend is up, I have found another little project. I have to have self discipline and just finish my little projects. They really wouldn’t take too long, with the exception of one. I think that will be my project for next weekend. Oh, wait! I won’t be here next weekend. Ok, then the weekend after that. I’m going to finish my little projects and get a lot done on my big one. What are my projects?

1: My Girls scrapbook. It’s just a little scrapbook for the friends I have made out here in New York. I have all the pictures that are needed, I just need to sit down and put it together. All I have is a half made book with some half done pages.

2: Cute little mini book. I’m not quite sure what this is going to be for, but I have the idea in my head and I just have to do it. I just need to go get a new paper cutter so I can finish them. They will be so cute once I just sit down and do them.

3: White on White painting: I did this several weeks ago. I think it turned out ok, but I’m not completely satisfied with it. I want to make the letters lighter and add a cute little ribbon so I can hang it in my room.

4: My room! Decorating my room was one of my new year’s resolutions. I have put up a sheet on one of the walls, which really brought in some color. Now I just need to put something on it. I have a few ideas.

I don’t know when I’m going to get these done, but I have to do it. I always say I will, but then I get districted by something or someone and I forget about them. Not anymore! These little projects are my new goals!

It's my birthday gift to me. I'm so happy.

Ever since Nike started advertising for the new Jasari+ running shoe, I have wanted them so bad! There was awhile there were they were featured on the Nike homepage and I had to look at them every time I opened the page at work. It was pure torture. I had to have them. I decided to order them, because I have waited patiently long enough. With a discount they aren’t that bad. I mean, I have spent more on shoes and these are customized the way I want them. The color scheme is a little funky and they do resemble bowling shoes, but I think they are cute. Now I have to wait a month to get them. Boo!

So you see it’s all a show, happy ending and all…And that just makes me want to sing!

So my Broadway Buddy left at one today. I’m lost! I don’t know what I’m going to do now. I feel like I should go to a show tonight, but I don’t have tickets to anything (or the money). I feel so empty and buddyless.

Five shows in five days! Not bad, not bad at all. Kari said that she really liked all the shows that we saw, but Wicked was her favorite. I think we got to do everything that she wanted to do, except the MoMA. Sorry Kari. Next time! I promise! She did get to see two celebrities while she was here, making this a complete New York experience.

Thanks for coming and playing Kari! So, who’s next?

Broadway: Wicked - I know you don't want to hear this but someone has to say it! You are out of control! I mean they're just shoes...let it go!

Wicked! This was the perfect way to end our five days of Broadway! Kari really enjoyed the show. She confessed before we went that she had one little concern. Since she has listened to the soundtrack so many times, she was afraid that she might have a hard time with different people playing the parts of Elphaba and Glinda. Luckily she was impressed with both!

Kari thoughts on the Cast (and of course I added my two cents):

Stephanie Block (Elphaba): Kari concluded the she had an amazingly powerful voice and played the part very well. Kari didn’t think she had the range that Idina Mezel did in the original, but she really held her own. She was so impressed with her. (I was happy because I am a huge fan of Stephanie Block. I just love her!)

Annaleigh Ashford (Glinda): Kari thought she was perfect for the part. Her upper rang wasn’t as powerful as Kristin Chenoweth, but she was perfect as Glinda. I do like Annaleigh, but I felt like she started off really weak in the first song.

David Burnham (Fiyero)….HOTTTT! Kari thought he was better than Nobert Butz. I really liked David as well, but I don’t know if he was better. He’s really good looking but there’s just something about him that isn’t right!

No wonder this show is the biggest thing on Broadway! It’s an amazing show with lovable characters. It just has it all. (Sorry for the switching of tenses, I’m really bad at that, and the grammar issues. I tried to go back and fix some. Some of these sentences make my skin crawl, but I don’t have the time to go back and fix. Sorry)

Broadway: Hairspray - What Gets A Gal Asked Out To Lunch? Is It Brains, Is It Dough? No, It’s Hairspray!

Kari and I went to see Hairspray tonight. This continues to be my favorite show. It’s one I can watch over and over again. The cast was a little different this time around. There were some cast improvements and some mistakes (in my opinion). Kari liked it, but thought that the movie was better. She didn’t like Tracy, which is kinda funny because I think she’s the best. She did like Link, who was played by the understudy. I agree with her on this point, and conclude that he is way better then Ashley Angle.

So we have now seen four shows and Wicked will be our last. I asked Kari what her preference of play is out of the four we have seen. She said she liked Legally Blonde the most, followed by Hairspray, Spamalot, and Young Frankenstein. I laugh at this because this is just another example of people having completely different Broadway preferences. My order is way different than hers. I just take this as additional proof that I should not recommend plays to people, because my likes and dislikes seem to be out of wack. Oh, well. We will have to see if Wicked can knockout Legally Blonde from first place. I will let you know.