Shining
January 3rd, 2012 / No commentsFirst day back @ work and I’m bouncing off the walls! Some of that is probably due to being delirious from no solid food in the last day but also, I just got my first job performance review today and it ROCKED. Even though I haven’t been here that long, I got astonishingly high scores and recieved some incredible comments from my managers. I also got a 3% raise that will take effect starting next week and be retroactive from my start date 9 months ago. It feels so fucking awesome, I gotta say, especially since I felt so unsure about this job when I started. It wasn’t an easy transition, even after my promotion at the end of the summer I still felt sometimes like my experience and talent wasn’t completely acknowledged. Today I am 100% certain that it is. It’s a really fantastic feeling and I’m proud of myself. What a way to start the year.
I feel so shiny.
Locked Out
January 2nd, 2012 / No comments
- LOCKED OUT!
We’re starting the year off with humility. AAA came and used some ghetto tools to get my door back open (see photo abve) = $45 lesson learned. I actually expected it to be more than that since it’s a Monday following a holiday weekend but I guess I was in luck. Ain’t that a bitch tho? I still tried to get my key copied today but once again, I ran into the same issue as last time. I guess I’m going to have to stop by a Toyota dealership and see about getting it done there.
Aside from this I didn’t do much else today. Started prepping for my cleanse tonight. Lightened and colored my hair and watched an old “Friends” episode where Chander’s dating Rachel’s boss and gets handcuffed to her filing cabinet. So oldschool.
2012 is Sparkling
January 1st, 2012 / No commentsHAPPY NEW YEAR! and welcome back to my life in blogform. Here’s how we’re gonna start 2012, winners: I’m going to set us both FREE. I’m setting you free from your old expectations of my blog. I doubt I’ll ever post on it the way I used to when I was younger (and had less going on in my life), but I will be updating it a lot more. Maybe not at impressive length but with informative footnotes on however I’m feeling or whatever I’m doing. Think Warhol Diaries. In addition to relieving you of your old expectations of me, I’m also setting myself free from the guilt of not properly updating this here blog often enough over the years and I’m lifting off my chest the stupid pressure weight of feeling like I need to go back and actually write blogs about what’s happened over the last few years. This year marks 10yrs that I’ve been keeping this blog and I just wanna honor that by keeping it going, but we’re starting FRESH up in hurr, OKrr? And in case there was any confusion, I am pronouncing OKrr just like Shocantelle Brown in her “Be-weave” commercial (skip to 0:12 to get what I’m saying).
Last night was absolutely the best way to end the year, I gotta say. I grabbed some Snickerdoodles from Tiff’s afterwork and surprised Nick when I got home. He LOVED them. We got dressed up really nice and went to dinner @ Z’Tejas downtown. I ended up taking us in my car so Nick could go nuts with drinks and I gotta say, it was really cool driving us around. We always end up in his car or we’re taking our own cars wherever we’re going, so it’s not often he actually sees me drive. I’ve come a LONG way from being that sheltered New Yorker who could never fathom getting behind the wheel and it felt good showing him that. We parked up a hill someplace and passed all these incredible homes on our way down to 6th Street, it’s just AMAZING that these homes are sitting just blocks away from the Lake and the Capitol and a cluster of office buildings. Austin is so laid-back and casual and very much a hipster college town, but there’s also clearly a lot of people with money here and you really get reminded of that when you see homes like that. We didn’t have a reservation for dinner but ended up landing the BEST table in the place: corner spot on the 2nd floor porch of the carriage house, it was like we were dining up in a tree house. Nick had a Hibiscus Punch and I got a Coconut Brown Sugar Mojito; we had an absolutely amazing meal. It was such a gorgeous night out, there were fireworks in the sky, and we talked a lot about our goals and plans for this new year. I’m hoping for a trip to NOLA in the next few weeks and he really wants to head to Dallas to see Riverdance at some point, I think both could be a lot of fun. We talked about maybe getting a treadmill for the loft, biking around together, his school/job plans, my fitness goals. It was just a lovely evening together and I kept thinking back to one year ago, when we were sitting @ Campbell Apartment in Grand Central on NYE, sipping vintage cocktails and thinking about all our big plans for 2011. What a difference this year has made.
After dinner we walked along West 6th for a bit wound up at this one home furnishings boutique called NEST. It was closed for the night but we stood outside the windows pointing out the chandeliers and funky stuff. We both are kind of in love with this one set of shelves. I’m already manifesting to own it this year.
I am DYING to have this in our dining area.
We headed down to SoCo for the party @ Barcelona Modern. The house was even more glamorous that I anticipated and holy shit that party did not disappoint! Great hosts, great music, great drinks, and really great-looking shirtless bartenders pouring our candy vodka sprites. Nick and I took a little tour and kinda just stood around enjoying the scene. They had this huge cluster of silver balloons out on the patio and a stack of blank resolution cards, it was PERFECT b/c I’d actually wanted to try and find one of those Chinese wish lanterns that you write on and then send up into the sky all lit up. After the fires in West Texas last spring I knew that wouldn’t be legal so I was really happy somebody decided to do these wish balloons.
My balloon said: "This year, I will not be afraid anymore."
Just before midnight they passed out sparklers (and apparently weed) so I was excited about that. We made our way outside and at midnight I was kissing my partner in crime under the stars. A really wonderful close to a really wonderful year.
2012 is already sparkling.
This morning was awesome, slept in and had a very lazy day. We met up with Daniel @ Moonshine for brunch — Sweet Baby Jesus that shit is GOOD. The chorizo/tamale scramble transports me every single time, I swear. I also had some of this pesto scrambled egg and a pomegranate mimosa. Delicious brunch! We came home right after to sleep it off and have pretty much been watching TV and napping in the loft all day long, as is custom after brunch @ Moonshine. Tomorrow I start the Master Cleanse, I’m doing the full 10 days on it too. Wanna flush out my system and really start things off on a CLEAN slate.
The Mayans thought that 2012 is supposed to be our final year. Some say it will end in fire and destruction, some people think that’s all bullshit. All my ass know is that I’m turning 33 this year and I’m very excited about it, the same way I looked forward to turning 30. 33 is actually considered significant in numerology, it’s one of the Master Numbers that possess more potential than other numbers. Alexander the Great was 33 when he was killed. It’s also the same age Jesus was when he was crucified (he performed a total of 33 Miracles in his lifetime, btw) and I can’t help but feel there’s something Holy about turning 33 in the year 2012. OK, not Holy but significant.
I’m getting ahead of myself, it’s only Day 1.
Fire & Ice
December 31st, 2011 / No commentsThis morning I had a real no-nonsense moment with myself in the mirror. It was about 6am and I just stood there naked, staring at myself. Firstoff, I’m really sick of being so fucking FAT. The scale said 178 and I really have no excuses for how I’ve let myself go this way. I don’t know if it’s some form of self-sabotage or what, but I’m done feeling and looking like this. I don’t have dreams of being the hottest guy in the world — I don’t even need to have a six pack! — I just want to be the best version of myself. Trim, energized, clear-eyed and centered. I’ve decided that I’m going to take on the new year with a goal to reshape myself from head to toe. 2012 all about Wellness.
Here’s my physical plan: Beginning January 2nd, I’m starting a toxin cleanse to flush all the unhealthy toxins out of my system. Doing a full 10 days on the Master Cleanse and on January 16th I’m enrolling in Weight Watchers. By the end of January I am going to begin biking with Nick around our neighborhood as often as we can, but I’ll do it on my own 4 times a week for half an hour a day. I’d like to attempt the p90x workout series by March although I’m going to keep my sights realistic on that. By my birthday in mid-May i want to have lost 30lbs and look good in a tank top, and by the summer I’d like to be in good enough shape to get back into gymnastics. That’s my ambitious goal, who knows if I can reach it. All I know is that I’m going to give it everything I have, and learn how to do the things I don’t know how to do. I’m just ready to stop being afraid to try.
Financially, I need to get back on the track I was on last year. I was a debt-paying, savings machine from 2009 – 20011 and I really felt amazing being in that mental place. Even though I’m not making NYC money anymore, I’m in this amazing position now where our house is 100% paid for and I can essentially pocket (SAVE!) the bulk of what I make at work. I haven’t put together a point by point savings plan yet, but that will come as I take a close look at my finances. I also need to enroll in my company insurance and benefits plan. I can’t believe I’ve gone for the last year and a half w/o any benefits or health insurance coverage. At first it was b/c I didn’t qualify for it yet at my new job(s), and then when I actually did become eligible I knew we were leaving for Austin soon and I wanted to try and make/save as much money as I could. But at this point, all my loose ends are tied up neatly and there’s just no reason to be w/o proper coverage. So I’m going to see HR about it by the end of next week.
I’m very eager to take up a creative hobby, perhaps something with my hands. They say crafty projects like that are good for calming your nerves and helping you center. There’s this really cute shop in one of those charming bungalow houses on South Lamar that I pass every once in awhile when I take the pretty way to work, it’s called Bead It. Apparently it’s chock-full of beads and things. I’ve never been inside but I sometimes think about taking up beading, just for fun. Also, I am intent on learning to knit so I can join Knitta Please! Nick has been crocheting and seems to love it. I really would love to find something I enjoy like that, something that doesn’t require wifi or my wallet for me to enjoy.
I also want to take better care of the people in my life, I want to let them know how much I love them and how often I think of them. I want to make more lists. I want to learn to eat and prepare more kinds of foods. I want to make better cocktails. I want to get to know more people in Austin. I want to get more involved in my career and where it’s headed. There’s a lot I’m thinking about and gearing myself up towards, it all feels really good.
I can’t believe how much has happened since New Year’s Eve last year. So many trips. Saving all that money. Learning to drive. Leaving NYC. Settling into Austin. My mom’s health scare. Getting a job. Buying our house. The holidays with my parents. It was such an epic year and it makes me want to do 2012 justice.
Tonight Nick and I are going to the Fire & Ice Ball at Barcelona Modern, which I am soooo fucking excited about!
411 Mary Street
I drove past that space last month randomly and actually got out of my car to take a closer look at it b/c it just caught my eye. So sleek and modern — I had no clue it was an actual residence! Just a few days ago a friend at work invited me to this NYE party being held there and it’s so funny how it worked out. It’s $25 per person and gets you open bar, appetizers, and tons of fun party stuff like photo booths and party favors and a balloon drop (whatever that is). It looks to be a very hip gay event so I’m sure the music will be good. It’s so perfect too, b/c it’s exactly the type of scene I was hoping we could find for the night — I wanted to go out but stay away from downtown (it’s in SoCo) and I wanted a house partyish setting but not at my house. It’s just worked out perfectly — yet another example of how things in Austin just seem to fall right into place. The invite said cocktail attire is requested so I have to run out and find something (none of my cute nice clothes really fit anymore). I’m really excited. I’m excited to celebrate what a success 2011 has been.
I’m excited to greet 2012 with a smile.
Snack Bonding
December 30th, 2011 / No commentsWent to dinner after work with Janina tonight. I’ve been trying to burn through all my $25 OFF Groupon Deals so we went to Snack Bar in SoCo. I always wanna like that place more than I do, the food just never really hits the mark. All that snazzy 60′s pop decor and mod mod style gets you thinking you’re in store for something memorable but I’ve been twice now and it just doesn’t impress me. Janina had never been there before and ended up loving her meal — she got a small white pizzetta and BLT pork belly sliders. I had wagyu steak frites, which were OK but my carrot ginger coconut milk soup was so gross — all mushy like porridge. I’m so NOT a foodie but damn, how can you offer such a limited menu and then serve portions that tiny? Even the cocktail menu is a little flat. Ugh, ignore my bullshit indignity, I’ve just been watching too much Top Chef: Texas. It was nice chilling with Janina, we talked a lot about our goals for the new year. She encouraged me to just go deep into whatever I’m interested in, whether it’s my career or a hobby or just networking in Austin b/c (she feels) I am so full of potential and could really just make this town my oyster. I nearly teared up hearing her say that.
This morning I watched this special on architecture in Tokyo and fell in love with the Nakagin Capsule Tower. Seems like a perfect living environment for a society of work-centric people who just need the basics and are generally small in stature. I wonder if there’s anything like that in America. I imagine our culture in general is too obese and obsessed with size (is that just Texans?) to find a pre-fab pod building appealing, but damn what a cool concept.
Got my haircut @ Birds today before work. The east side location really is my favorite one. I also dropped by Chipotle AGAIN for a quick bite. Instead of parking down @ City Hall and then footing it up and back, this time I parked on the street at a meter while I ate — parallel parked too! It was my first time doing that downtown. Felt like a grown up!