cassielynnmay.com

The Thoughts That I Left With...

2009-09-10T01:37:00.017-05:00

So it's been about a month, and I'm back to write about my final days in NYC.

Before I left, I was probably the most calm out of the three of us in my apartment. I don't know why, but I think I had found comfort in knowing that I had some of the most amazing people back at home to look forward to. Anyways, because I was so calm prior to packing up, I was completely shocked at the emotion I got while driving away.

I didn't cry until I was making my final walk towards the plane. And as I boarded, I tried to half-way smile at the cheerful attendants... although I'm pretty sure "I really don't want to be doing this" was written all over my face.

Anyways, after that awkward moment, I found my seat, sat down, and began to write. About what? Um... raw emotion. And although it's a bit more candid than I like to go for, and at times doesn't make much sense at all, I'm going to give it to you straight.

Here are my final moments in NYC--pictures, raw emotion and all:
-------

Saturday, AUGUST 8

7:05 AM, LGA Airport

I’ve never felt like I was leaving something behind so much in my life. I’m leaving it behind, and I can feel it. And this is coming from a girl who absolutely loves the life that she’s returning to. I guess it’s just one of those things… knowing you just belong somewhere.

I’m sitting on the plane, not able to breathe. My eyes are watering, Jason Mraz singing me into memories of my summer under the lights. I miss it already, and I’m still on the ground.

I said I wasn’t going to be sad…I tried being happy with knowing that I at least had this experience at all. I can say now, that that mindset is all that is saving me. And I can appreciate that… I have been blessed.

We’re about to take off. I’m leaving. My stomach hurts. I don’t want this. I want to stay. I want my life there. I’ll miss the people—the strangers. I’ll miss the dirty subways and stuffy elevators. I’ll miss knowing I won’t know anybody at the bar but the girls I went with. I’ll miss crazy taxi drivers, ice cream at Brother’s Candy, complaining about our ½ mile walk to the nearest L train. I’ll miss commuting to Jersey, work, feeling necessary, and calling my mom from across the country. I’ll miss not wanting to go to class, but knowing that it’ll probably entertain me enough to keep a smile on my face. I’ll miss Paige saying “Night Cass, love you,” every night, and I’ll miss Eliza yelling at her alarm every morning. I’ll even miss feeling dirty—because with the dirtiness came that amazing feeling of being clean after a shower. I’ll miss Hot N’ Crusty… even if the name still grosses me out. I’ll miss the liquor store on Ave B… they probably thought I was out of my mind. Or a good time. Let’s go with the latter. I’ll miss going to Off the Wagon with the girls, the bartender who would give us “the look” every time we walked in… you know, those eyes that accuse you of going there too often. He didn’t have to say a thing. Really, I’ll just miss it all. The good, the bad, the dirty, and all in between. Ciao for now. Be back soon.

-The L Train-

I might cry....

Home.

Oooh, just my roomie Paige, being Paige. I miss her so much.
View from the bedroom window.

Leaving our stoop

Next to our apartment... PETE'S-A-PLACE
Get it? :)

My "spot"...aka, daily candy/ice cream runs
Kate's door @ the NYC dorms. My 2nd home.

When Tara & Kate came to visit us!

Awesome fruit stands...

Flat Iron
Our favorite bar... and yes, we have t-shirts to prove it.

Standard taxi ride.
I really do miss us.

Off to work... after an hour on the subway.

My bus terminal!

A piece of work...and yes, I drew that one day.
I couldn't help it... I love dry erase boards.
Three months in a book...
I documented EVERYTHING...

Paige & I found this on our walk the last night. Fitting.
Boo.

Ciao for Now.
Trust me, it's only temporary.

Xoxo, Cas

Your assumptions are probably spot-on.

2009-08-19T01:25:00.003-05:00

There's so much to be said...

But given my current situation (aka, sorority recruitment), I haven't had enough time to update.

But don't you freight... when I finally do, there will be plently of new pics... get excited. Oh, and of course you'll find out how I reallllly feel about being back in Missouri. (Yes, your assumptions are probably spot-on.)

Until then, take care :)

Xoxo,
Cas

...You've Just Got To Let Life Take Your Breath Away

2009-08-03T23:28:00.010-05:00

A friend and I had a touristic day, roaming around NYC hot-spots like China Town, the Brooklyn Bridge, the World Trade Center site and Central Park. All was well, especially when we ended up on top of the world. Literally. Here are some pictures from the "Top of the Rock".... aka, 30 Rockefeller Center...

They're worth a thousand words.

We went to the top of this. Eek!
Ps. The elevator ride was 1/2 the fun.

Our safety net... aka, huge glass panes. Pretty great idea, thanks!

I spy the East River

Observation deck

My NYC buddy for the day/ visitor for the week... Ryan Bumb... enjoying the view

...One of these things is not like the other...

You know,
sometimes you've just got to let life take your breath away.
Pictures from the rest of the day... and last weekend... coming soon. These just couldn't wait.

Xoxo,
Cas

The Pole You're Holding Has A Gazillion Germs On It

2009-07-27T21:18:00.026-05:00

In case you are wondering... I'm saving the "I can't believe this is almost over" update for later on. Now is not the time to be sad... because honestly, I'm not. I'm still in the city--still loving everything about this place--and would rather focus on making crazy plans for our final weekend than waste time being upset.

So that's that.

As one could expect, the internship is still wonderful. My favorite part? Conducting interviews, hands down. Last Wednesday, I interviewed Honor Society--a pop/rock group who are currently on tour with the Jonas Brothers! Granted I knew very little about them prior to the interview, I quickly realized as I approached the venue, surrounded by a staggering line of teenage girls, that they were that type of band. What's "that" type of band? Mmm, I'm actually very familiar. Once upon a time, I was quite obsessed with Nsync; I was once one of those pre-teen girls who seizured at even the thought of my boys. Anyways, although the members of Honor Society have more of a rock feel and play their own instruments, their crowd is similar. That's what I meant by that.

Anywho... after waiting for about 10 minutes inside the Gramercy Theater lobby, I was escorted into a small room with four attractive guys waiting for me. (It was at this moment when I realized that this would be the first time I'd ever had to interview more than one person at a time--let alone four.) But, you know me--I kept my cool as I always do (haha...I kid), and the interview went smoothly. The guys were really fun to talk to, nice to look at and extremely painless. And, about two hours following our chat, I had the pleasure of watching them perform for a sold out audience:

Oh, and for your own personal enjoyment... here's a photo of me with some other reporters before the show:

Please take note of the off the official Jonas Brothers border. I don't mess around.

Since covering Honor Society, I've also interviewed Josh Hutcherson (he's an actor), and a new rock band from the UK, FranKo. FranKo's publicist actually ended up inviting me to their showcase later that night, which I accepted (why not, right?) So, after work last Thursday, Paige (my roomie) and I ventured to the small-ish venue with bright red walls and intimate seating. It was amazing.

PS: Click here to see the blog I wrote! FranKo's publicist informed me today that they were linking it on their press release about the guys coming to the States!!

Aside from work, I think a majority of my time has been spent enjoying the nightlife--meeting people and entertaining them with the usual "Yes, I choose to go to school in Missouri & yes, it is a fun place to live" schpeal. Honestly, you would think we were from the moon...

Anyways, here are some pictures from last weekend's nightlife adventures.

At a bar in SoHo... they had a confetti gun :)

At the same bar as above... with an aerial view: it was packed.

At Southern Hospitality

(Where about 13 of us went for Lyndey's 22nd birthday on Saturday...
Yep! It's owned by Justin Timberlake!)

The troops arriving to take us to our next destination.

SIDENOTE: Ever wonder what goes on inside of a taxi cab with four 21-year-olds and a driver named Muhammad? Check it out... it's difficult to understand at first, but things get pretty entertaining as the ride goes on. Naturally.

(Katie is the one doing most of the talking.... with a few contributions from myself.)

Here's the sky-bar we ended up at. It honestly had one of the best views of the city that I have ever seen. And I've seen a lot of views. Unfortunately, this picture doesn't even come close to doing it justice.

Oh, and as promised, here are a couple pictures from around the city. You know... in attempts to bring you something a little more authentic :)

(On the subway)
"THE POLE YOU'RE HOLDING HAS A GAZILLION GERMS ON IT"
Lucky for me, I love germs.

The skate parks are always packed...

...& they mean business.

Soooo.. that's all I have for now! Trust that these last 11 days in the city will be enjoyed properly.

Oh, & expect documentation.

Thanks for reading!
Xoxo,
Cas

FYI: I linked a lot of bands/people in this entry so that you may have a better understanding of who/what I'm talking about...in case you didn't catch on to it as you were reading.

Work CAN be play..

2009-07-14T20:55:00.039-05:00

Why do so many people frown? I spend a lot of time watching people get on and off the subway, and very rarely do I encounter anyone who looks even remotely happy. I mean... be it morning or night, it doesn't really matter. People look pissed-off more times than not.

I mean, subways are sick--I get it. Riding on a stuffy underground train isn't really the most glamorous part of my day, but I don't think that I look like I want to jump in front of it, either. And their frowns really make me question their happiness... whether their jobs are really that miserable, or if it's just that bad at home.

I mean, who knows what's really going on with people and their unhappy faces... I still have yet to ask. But whatever their reason, I have concluded one thing:

Whatever I decide to do with my life--wherever I end up and with whoever I go home to--I refuse to live in routine. No thank you-

I don’t want to be a robot.

If you're unhappy enough to frown that much... change something about your life! I know, I know--easier said than done. But really, we're all in control of our own happiness. Something's got to give.

And that's my soapbox for the night. Moving on...

Things at work are fantastic. I interview about one "celebrity" a week, which is probably my favorite aspect of the job. No... not because they're famous or whatever, but because I genuinely love our conversations. I don't usually walk into a session with preconceived notions (mostly because I don't know that much about them...whoops), and yet they still manage to surprise me; they're never what I even remotely expect.

I don't know... it's all just pretty cool.

Aside from that, I've been doing a lot of transcribing (typing out interviews into word documents), and researching stories for my editors. I write a ton of blog posts (which I've come to really enjoy), & I should probably note that these aren't your typical blog posts (such as these.) Instead, they are filled with "tween" lingo and can be pretty entertaining. (Here's the site if you need some reference: Mmm-Mag.com)

Knock yourselves out.

When I'm not at work, I'm usually roaming the streets with the girls. I spent last weekend with Lyndey, Christy & Paige, wandering around Chinatown and getting harassed by vendors. And by harassed, I mean,

"Coach, Gucci, Chanel purse?????"

being whispered (or yelled) in my ear every three or four steps. My "bubble" was violated for a solid two hours.

I know, pretty intense.

Anyways, there's a lot to be said for the past couple of weeks, but of course I slacked on the updating and am now overwhelmed. I'm sure you'll live. But, I do have some pictures to share with you... of course!

Brunching on a Sunday afternoon: We love this, although I've come to find that having to choose between breakfast & lunch food is (assumingly) like having to choose which child you love most. Decisions, decisions.

Our train ride to Long Island Beach for the 4th of July.
It was well worth the effort.

Literally IN the ocean... and I'm happy.

The beach has a way of making everybody happy... even if it costs $10 to enjoy.
Which is still a questionable fee...
My sisters make for amazing company...
especially when adventures are involved. We walked around for hours.

It's easy to forget that I'm in the city...

Work can be play... if you do it the right way :)
The first is from Beyonce's press conference;
the other is at a Hey Monday show (a band I Interviewed for M)

I always love spending time w/ my roomie, Paige.
Def. check out her blog if you get the chance, she's awesome...
Me laying on a bench outside my apartment after a bad day.
Even in a city of 6 million... it's not impossible to be alone.
& that's a good thing.

So things are (obviously) going great. Oh, except one thing. Have I mentioned that I bought my plane ticket to Missouri today?! That's right... our time is almost up here in the city. Can you believe that? Unreal.

...Unreal and depressing.

Anyways, I'll be heading back on August 8th... and despite my lack of eagerness to return to Missouri, I do miss familiar faces. And driving :)

Okay, that's enough for now!
Until next time, I wish you well-

Xoxo,
Cas

for my grandma...i love you.

My Happiness

2009-06-28T09:40:00.021-05:00

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

2009-06-19T10:24:00.006-05:00

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"

2009-06-17T15:44:00.006-05:00

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

2009-06-08T22:03:00.008-05:00

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!)

Only the beginning...

2009-06-03T12:38:00.026-05:00

I apologize for the delay... but trust me, there's a ton of information and tales of adventure to be shared!

I flew into LaGuardia (LGA) on Wednesday, May 27 around 4:40 in the evening. I've flown by myself probably more than I have with company, but this trip was different...mostly because I had absolutely no idea what I was doing or where I was going. I know, excellent planning.

In attempts to not appear lost or confused, I did my best to "confidently" make my way to the baggage claim where I proceeded to wake up a man in uniform lounging in the corner of the room (at the request of his co-worker.) Within five minutes, my bags were loaded onto a cart and out the door... and this is where I experienced my first solo NYC taxi ride.

And, $40 later, I was greeted by Miss Eliza at the front of our apartment building... thank God for a familiar face. We spent the rest of the day looking around our neighborhood and buying things for our apartment, quickly realizing that the myth is true: things are wayyyy too expensive here. Still, we found enough to make our place welcoming... including a cheap sofa sleeper and (free) coffee table. Really, our apartment is, strangely enough, entirely too big for us to fill, but it's home...

- our bedroom view!
- gorgeous view from our living room..

Okay, so Thursday night, Eliza, Kate (aka, Retro), and I went to a cute little pub called Vertigo. We shared an appetizer and drank wine amongst men and women in suits, obviously enjoying post-work happy hour festivities. Of course, as people trickled out, including Retro who had to go to work the next day, Eliza and I stayed and chatted with our new friends: two Irish bartenders and some guys who worked for the History Channel. Free drinks, interesting conversation and a few business cards; all in all, it was a great first night in NY.

On Friday, the roommates (Paige & Eliza), Retro and I made a great batch of Sangria that we drank while getting ready for a night out in the Meatpacking District. We wandered into three different bars: Gaslight (a small-ish bar with expensive drinks), a sky bar located on the penthouse level of a hotel (with an amazing view of a sparkling Manhattan skyline), and ONE (a younger bar with a dance floor and fun music.) Ironically, while we stayed at ONE the longest, we didn't really make it past the entryway where we sat and chatted with some NY boys.

I admit, we left there pretty late (aka, when it closed and the lights came on), and decided to catch a cab home. And then two minutes into the cab ride, we noticed lights, assumed it was a movie, and had him drop us off. Thank God. It was a movie set, and this is where we met Nicolas Cage. Unfortunately, we didn't ask for a picture when he came over to talk to us, a misstep that a security guard informed us was a failure to "seize the moment." I know...we know...we messed up. But regardless, "Nick" was a very cool, down-to-earth guy.

-Okay, look closely and you'll see white... that's Nicolas Cage! (w/ a puppy on his lap)

-Candid-ish of the fun crew boys (thanks Liza!!)

-Us with crew!

-Retro and me waiting for the L...

The four of us slept in Saturday morning and later walked down Lexington, a blocked-off street in mid-Manhattan filled with vendors and authentic food. We later found ourselves sitting in Bryant Park eating yummy cupcakes and cookies from a cute little bakery called Crumbs: delicious food and a beautiful day.

Playtime aside, as Monday arrived, I realized that I was also here for an internship and class. On Monday night, rather than having class at the CUNY (where it will normally be held), we went to the Paley Center to view a screening of Bravo's new reality show, NYC Prep. There, we watched the premiere episode of spoiled Upper-East Side 16-year-olds (exciting, I know), and later sat in on a Q&A session with them and Bravo Executive Producer, Andy Cohen. Yep, Andy Cohen was the only really legitimate part of that session--but a cool experience all the same.

Anyways, I started my internship with M yesterday... after making an hour & 15 minute commute across NYC and the Hudson River to NJ. I spent the day researching the new Twilight movie, New Moon, and packaging prizes for young sweepstakes winners. Really, my eight-hour shift flew by, and due to M transitioning out their old interns, I won't have to work again until Friday. No complaints here, obviously..

Tonight we have a gathering with Mizzou J-School Alumni who currently live in NYC. It's at a bar & grill called MJ Armstrong's, and Eliza and I are hoping for some free food.

Keep your fingers crossed for us... we've come to greatly appreciate the cheap, but mostly FREE, things in life.

Until next time, here are some more pics of the city that I've taken along the way...
- Our fav. late night food, Papaya Dog

Xoxo,
Cas

Goodbye, sunny San Diego

2009-05-26T12:26:00.012-05:00

After fighting anxiety and nervousness for the past three months--stressing over the trivial and daydreaming about the unknown--I must spend the next 15 hours packing my life into two suitcases and a flimsy duffel bag.

That's right... the time has come for me to move to the city.

My flight is at 6:30 tomorrow morning, and after 6 1/2 hours and 2,548 miles of flying, I'll finally be in Manhattan. And, while I've never been so outside of my comfort zone, I couldn't be happier... or more ready.

So what have I been doing to prepare? Well...aside from guiltlessly watching dozens of episodes of the Real Housewives of NY, Mamma has been gracious enough to take me shopping. (I know, what a great excuse for a new wardrobe!) But, aside from that, I've spent the last couple of days "touring" the San Diego bookstores, mastering the art of obtaining information without buying. Questionable , I know, but I just can't bring myself to buy $100 worth of city guides... And really, I have no shame in sitting in Barnes & Noble for hours and leaving empty-handed. I suppose we all have our vices, & this is mine.

On a more exciting note, today we received our rooming assignments. Eliza, Paige and I are so close to the East River--the perfect place for running--and seconds away from the subway. The area is lined beautifully with trees and buildings of red bricks, which is completely NYC-esque. And, according to Miss Eliza (who arrived late last week), we're very close to SoHo & East Village... perfect.

And now, with hardly any time left at all, I'm off to prepare for my journey... although I find it hard to believe that I could ever really brace myself for the next few months of my life.

But, isn't that what makes this all so beautiful? That the next time I post, my excitement will be accompanied by images of my new city--

My city that never sleeps.

Be back soon,
Xoxo,
Cas

One step closer

2009-04-29T12:09:00.006-05:00

I'm booking my plane tickets today... hope I don't mess anything up.

I probably will.

Oh, and 28 days! Then it's just Eliza, Retro, Paige & me in the city.

Eeek! Until then,

Xoxo,
Cas