My Happiness

Food for thought: For the sake of life, living for the moment and for the people who make you happiest...remember: You can't take it with you. As hard as it may be (believe me, I know)... keep in mind that at the end of the day, materials don't matter, at least not in comparison to the experience of actually living. Find the true meaning of happiness--your true meaning of happiness--and run with it. Death has been the source of so much talk these past couple of days, but the most important thing I've taken from it all is to love & appreciate each day. Our fear should not be that it all end, but that it all end without ever really having lived at all...

Hello, hello!

I really shouldn't let so much time pass between each post....
and for that, I am sorry.

So really quick, what's been going on? Well.... literally EVERYTHING.

Work has been hectic. I sometimes feel over-worked, underpaid (um... as in not at all), and burdened. Welcome to the life of an intern, right? I know. But amongst all of the chaos, I'm loving every minute. I regularly write blogs, interview celebs & have (hopefully) gained the trust of my editors. Things honestly could not be going any better (knock on wood), and I am honestly so grateful for the way(s) Mizzou has prepped me.

Really you guys--some good comes from Missouri, I promise :)

Oh! And last Wednesday, I went on a date to my first Broadway show!!! He took me to see "In the Heights" (which won a 2008 Tony for Best Musical!)

Afterwards, we went to the top of the Marriott in Times Square to a bar called "The View." This place was a spinning bar that gave me an incredible view of the city from every angle.
I obviously had an amazing time :) to say the least.

As for other things... hm. You know, if I could describe to you--if I could find the words to use, and at the same time, do this place justice--I would. I would describe to you how amazingly diverse each moment is for me. I would describe how even the rain doesn't slow us down, because we know we would just be missing too much. I would describe how even the little things count--from the (still amazingly) huge buildings to the little kids who ride the subways like adults. I would describe the smells, the tastes and the dirt. Believe me, if I could, I would describe it all.

Unfortunately, it's almost impossible. Sure, I could try, but the last thing I would want is to relay to you the same generic information that you could find on a tourist website. Ok, stop laughing. I know I'm not a "local"... but it's pretty safe to say that you will NOT find me sitting in the middle of Times Square in a lawn chair. Yes, people do that. I will not.

So here I am--conflicted. Or at least I was. Part of the reason I haven't updated in weeks in because I've been searching for a way to keep this authentic. Annnnd, what have I come up with?

Pictures... duh.

Still, I really don't want to show you things you've already seen.... or anything that you could Google right now for that matter. But here's what I've got.... it's a little bit of everything, annnnd yea, ENJOY!

**Oh! And yes, all of these are from my BlackBerry. (Aka, my sad/probably unsuccessful attempt to be inconspicuous and a photographer. I'm obviously neither.)

Always tons of nappers on the subway.... always.

Miss Eliza & I out one night
I love this.
Table-side guac!! (So good...)
View of the Brooklyn Bridge from a rooftop.
I dig him...and absolutely hate waiting to cross streets.
Another rooftop view!

Chelsea, me, Caitlin & Retro at the CARDS/METS game!

Retro, me & Chels before the game!

5A roomies at the Good Morning America set in Times Sq.

:) Cool man.

Awesome empty gallery room!

Musicians make this city...& I love the sax.

...& yet another sleepy view from the subway.
Yes, I'm fully aware of how creepy I am.
Our wonderful professor posing w/ Eliza & me
Sweet little girl, loving the airplanes in the sky...
Always moving.
Towards the end of our first Media Tour Day
Rooooooomies!

After the death of MJ, this crowd formed in Union Square. With his music blaring from random speakers, people danced and sang to songs that the world will never forget. Pretty awesome.

A Sunday brunch

"Pride" Weekend in the City....

Crazy views from the parade... the energy was NUTS.

My Wednesday off spent at the Museum of Modern Art
This little boy was drawing a sculpture, completely unphased by the hundreds of people walking by... including the crazy girl (me) and her "date" :) taking pictures of him.
Awesome painting
A drawing of MLK, Jr.
I spy Cassie & friend :)
In the heart of NYC
"A tree is best measured when it is down"
Hi toes :)
Inside, looking out.
Cool piece of work. A man painted on a mirror-like material. And there's me!
Me being creepy on a cute couple... it's sweet, right?

Andy Warhol



Mike checkin' the scene outside...

Strangers "discussing" the art...

Awesome sculpture...

Until next time,
Xoxo-
Cas

World Refugee Day & Angelina

If anything, a reiteration of what I was saying in the last post about the power of the individual story... specifically at the 2 minute mark.

Amazing. And this is why I look up to her.

Xoxo,

Cas

"Listen...this is New York City"

The first week here wasn't easy.

There, I said it. My comfort zone was a million miles away, leaving only dirty subways and distant strangers staring back at me. My friends and family were in San Diego & Missouri, and I had a rapidly decreasing bank account and a jackhammer waking me up every morning.

No, I don't think it's "that time" for full reflection and analysis--that's not what this is. Instead, for me to honestly update you about my experiences here, I've come to realize that that includes portraying what I'm doing activity-wise AND what's going on internally. Why? Because things aren't always wonderful, the City isn't always desirable, and by me giving the impression that it is would be verrry misleading. Misleading and pretend. So none of that... rather, I'm going to do what my dad claimed was his New Year's resolution:

"I'm gonna keep it real." (Haha... Mamma, you should appreciate that one.)

So yea, at first, NYC was that unappealing to me. I didn't like that people seemed so far away from each other--that the City seemed completely void of that whole "love thy neighbor" concept. Believe me, I made my assumptions about this place quickly, and thank God I didn't grasp hold of them.

My turn-around came when I was talking to a stranger out one night. He asked if I liked living in the city, and I said that I didn't necessarily dislike it, but that it was different from what I expected. Then he said this... (or something like it):

"Listen... this is New York City. Nobody really comes here loving every aspect of it--but there aren't a lot of times in someone's life when they relocate to a place, knowing very little about what it's actually like to live there, and LOVE it immediately. But trust me, this place grows on you-- it grows on everyone. Why else do you think there are 8 million people living here? Give it time..."

So I did; I gave it a chance... because that's all I really know how to do in situations that I cannot change. I got over not being 100% comfortable, 100% of the time, sucked it up and started to embrace it. And although I've only been here for like, 3 1/2 weeks, and my thoughts may be premature, just keep in mind how long that would seem being in a completely new place, so far from anything else you had ever known.

Anyways, I've given it time, and here I am... loving everything about NYC. I feel like I'm out of the whole trial period, and am actually starting to live my life here. And, on top of that, I can feel myself changing--changing the perceptions, my independence, what's important to me & who I am. The commutes to and from work, which I hated at first, have now become therapeutic. I love the variety--my GOD, the diversity. I now observe better, noticing things about people that I would have never considered before. I find myself constantly snapping pictures of strangers in my mind, for the sole reason that they all just seem that interesting to me. I only wish I could know more about their lives--where they are going & where they're coming from.

"Are you happy? Sad? Married? Have a home?......"
Now that's another can of worms.

I was riding the A train to work the other day, following my usual routine (iPod in hand and awkwardly looking at people), when I was caught off guard by an older man walking without shoelaces and a silver can in his hand, falling with each jerky sway of the train (it can be pretty ferocious.) I turned up my music so that I could just close my eyes and let it go... but of course I couldn't. The man next to me had given him money, so there too went my dollar for Skittles. The homeless man graciously thanked us and sat in the seat across from us. He proceeded to talk with the man next to me, and of course, as my normal way-too-nosy/curious self, I took off my headphones so I could listen to their conversation.

The homeless man, speaking clearly and with an unexpected grace, insisted that he wasn't "a drinker," but instead had struggled for years with "shooting up" after developing the habit in Vietnam. This made sense and broke my heart.

I know, maybe I'm too trusting... but then again, maybe I'm not?

Anyways, it turns out the man next to me just lost a majority of his home to a fire, had found temporary housing and for the time being, was working overtime to get his situation back in order. Seemingly impressed with his spirit, the homeless man only listened with wide eyes and a nodding head. Then the other man asked the homeless man where he was staying. He replied, "Oh, I'm on the streets." Unsettled, the man reached back into his wallet and gave his new friend another $20. The homeless man tried to deny it, acknowledging that with a destroyed home, he had his own struggles to attend to. His fight was a lost cause as the other man simply responded, "Take care of yourself," and exited the train.

Of course, I'm sitting there with tears streaming down my cheeks. This is our world? Wow.

I've never been able to handle the homeless...it's all just so unsettling for me. I know that we all have our separate opinions on this, and to each his own. But for me, regardless of how they got there or whatever, they are still human beings, hungry and sleeping on the streets. With that being said, the homeless are the only reason I will close my eyes in this place... at least until I know that I can do more to help.

The real point of me telling that story is that it exemplifies the true nature of my everyday experiences here. And, thank God that I have them because they serve as as constant reminder as to why I'm in journalism in the first place. I want to make real, "average" people visible to each other, all in hopes that we may one day better understand each other and peacefully co-exist. We all have a story, ya know? And knowing each others' provides insight--and I think we could all use a little bit more of that sometimes.

Anyways, I know that this is getting long, but I want to update you really quick on my internship!

Everything at M is going great--I love working there and love how much they rely on us. Aside from the time I spend transcribing interviews & researching stories, I also write blogs for the site. AND, last week I conducted my first celebrity interview! I had a 20-minute phone call with Drew Seeley (of the High School Musical tour and now as Prince Eric in Little Mermaid on Broadway!)--he was a really down-to-earth guy and I had a great time talking to him!

Annnnd ok, ok ok.... of course the most recent excitement for last:

On Monday, my day off, I went down to Washington Sq. Park with my friends Chelsea and Katie in hopes of finding Robert Pattinson (Twilight), who was said to be filming for his new movie, Remember Me. The idea of seeing him sounded great, but I was really kind-of doubting that we'd catch him. Hmm... I was wrong, saw him on set and took tons of pictures. I ended up with some really great ones, and since Rob is like, 75% of the magazine, decided to pitch them to my editors at M.

This is the result:
http://www.mmm-mag.com/2009/06/m-exclusive-we-spent-the-day-w.html

Yep, that's my stuff.... newly developed "tween" language & all :)

Here are some recent pictures--maybe so you don't completely regret sitting through all of that ^ Ha.

Roommate Lovee
Out with Caitlin (Theta) & Retro (DG duh)... we later realized that this was inappropriate to do in bars outside of COMO
My new fav. hideaway cafe--quaint and oh-so lovely
At FAO
Chels and & me on the BIG piano from the movie, Big
Eliza & I went to a very good BBQ place with an even better atmosphere.
She loved the sauces... clearly :)

Until next time, take care of yourself and do something nice for someone else...
Go love thy neighbor-

Xoxo,
Cas

Strangers Becoming Less Strange

Man, oh man.

In light of the "expect-the-unexpected" nature of this crazy city, I'm going to go down a different route with this post. You know, keep you on your toes :)
So here ya go...

MY LESSONS LEARNED IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS

1. Mizzou Alumni Don't Bite.

Last Wednesday, we were invited to attend a gathering hosted by our Missouri alumni who now live in the city. Held at MJ Armstrong's--an amazing restaurant that I will get back to in a second--we congregated in a comfy basement that proudly fashioned a black & gold Mizzou flag and chatted about life in the city and our first couple of days interning. And okay, although it may be hard to believe that I would ever be hesitant or worried about entering a room full of new people, I kind-of was. But, on the contrary to the faint worry that the alumni would be too intimidating to be natural with, all in attendance were incredibly down-to-earth and willing to help us break into the business. All in all, a worthwhile and (genuinely) fun time.

2. MJ Armstrong's Is A New Favorite.

Why? Oh, I don't know... it could be the cozy walls and dim lighting, or possibly the amazing music that the friendly bartenders DJ from their personal I-pods. If not for those reasons, it may be the eclectic crowd that ranges from firefighters in kilts, bachelorette parties and old Irish men who never seem to leave. OH, and probably one of the biggest factors of my newfound love.... I introduce you to the best macaroni and cheese I have ever had in my life. Please don't tell my grandma. But honestly, so good that Eliza & I returned for lunch a few days later...
(I hope there is no judging going on... I swear we had leftovers.)

3. Street Markets Are To Die For. Delicious fresh fruit smoothies, authentic cuisine, cheap knock-offs, sunshine and skyscrapers lining the streets... need I say more?

4. Things Are Always Bigger In Movies, But Definitely Not Better.
Ever seen Hitch? Ya know, the New York-hosted movie starring Will Smith & Eva Mendes? Well, watch closely and you'll notice this quaint dessert shop that only serves rice pudding... and oh my goodness, do they serve it well. Imagine trendy and delicious, bright lights and a place where customers don't mind sharing booths/tables with strangers.

Rice to Riches was a simple pleasure -- a yummy New York treasure :)

5. These Things Really Do Exist In The City.
The amazing, amazing Central Park... (beautiful picture taken by my beautiful roomie, Paige!)
Street basketball games at almost every corner... there are usually large crowds of people lining the fence watching!
Scary pigeons that want nothing more than to see how close they can get to my head. Blah.
Cute New-Yorker teens making hot dogs & Philly sandwhiches into all hours of the night!
Beautiful streets with full trees and cute stoops. New York is so authentic!

6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Working As An Intern Is Actually A Very Cool Experience!

Although the roommates and I have only been on the job for a couple weeks (or less), we are all sure of at least this one thing: the Missouri School of Journalism does an amazing job with preparing its students for the "real world." Just from our individual experiences alone, Paige, Eliza and I feel confident in our work and already have great expectations for the weeks to come.

This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and one that I would never take for granted. Honestly, I don't think that a day has gone by that I haven't said to myself, or the stranger standing next to me, "Wow, I cannot believe I really LIVE here."

Thanks for reading, and be back soon!
XOXO,
Cas

Oh, & PS, here is a brief account of some lessons I have had to learn the hard way. Please take note:
- Taxi drivers don't always know where they are going, and you pay the price;
- It doesn't take much effort to turn a 20-minute subway ride into 2 hours if you get too confident and end up taking the wrong train;
- Low-key bars are much more desirable than clubs, which tend to be a little too sketchy for comfort;
- Do not cough while in public--people automatically assume you have the Swine Flu and will glare...

(Ok, that's all! Take care!)