WORK?!?! I Didn't Come To NYC to Work! :)

Juuuuuust kidding. Of course I came to this beautiful chaotic city to work!!!! Did you think I came here solely to galavant and party? Okay, well, I can see where you may have gotten that idea. But the fact of the matter is I've been bustin' my butt to get the slightest bit of hope that I actually belong here, and guess what, I ended up with 2 gigs! They have no idea what they're getting themselves into. haha


In case you hadn't heard, I will now be working at both Apple and Big Hassle Media. Apple just pulled through at the last minute, but I'm not gonna lie, I'm pretty psyched they did! I'll start there next week. I actually already started with the music company yesterday! It was fantastic! They had me working on pretty legit projects on my first day, which shows me possibly one of 2 things: 1) they trust my work/capabilities already and that's good news for me, or 2) they were insanely swamped with work and needed any help they can get! I'd like to think it was a little more from the first choice, but it very well may have been the latter. Either way, it was great! I'm so eager and enthusiastic about anything relating to music. I am the epitome of a music nerd! If you see me as a slacker who procrastinates and is pretty apathetic about anything remotely serious in life, well, you're wrong. I care about music. Who needs the rest?! haha More so, I'm enthusiastic about this particular company! They do amazing work and represent amazing bands and I am so much more than thrilled to be a small part of it! I could go on for days... really... actually, I have gone on for days! I just hadn't blogged about it yet. I think you're getting the basic gist of it for now though.

Then there's Apple. After applying 2 months ago, and going through the most outrageous interview process of all time, they finally decided to offer me a job! Woot woot! Employee discount, here I come! haha Well, I'm actually excited about this gig for more than just the sweet discount on pretty sweet products. I'm super psyched to meet the other employees and be a part of such a fantastic company to work for. They treat their employees quite well, and for the most part, they're just passionate about what they do. Also, many of the employees happen to be more in tune with the creative part of the brain. I don't know which side. I'm into the creative side as well, not science. Knowing the parts of the brain would be too much science for this kid. haha  Yeah, it really is sad. Anyways, seriously, I want to get to know artists and film editors and musicians and photographers! I can't wait! There's bound to be a cool kid or two employed at that location.


Speaking of location, both of these jobs are in siiiiiiiiick parts of town! Apple @ W. 14th St and 9th Ave between Chelsea and the Meatpacking District. Snazzy! And Big Hassle is straight up ballin' on Wall St! What what!!! I get to wear jeans and sneaks into a building where everyone is wearing suits and ties. Suckas. hahaha they're both awesome parts of town that I'm anxious to learn my way around!


Can you tell that I'm ecstatic? Just a little? Well, I am! BIG TIME! But I think it's enough talk about work, I don't want to bore. Let's get some pics up!


Now, I've been snapping a few shots around town then coming home only to be ultra nerdy and photoshop all night. Here are a couple of my faves right now. I'm actually taking feedback about these and would LOVE to know what yall think. Which one is your favorite? Do they look over-edited? Honesty is key here, folks!  So here we go:

Possible T-Shirt Image

A

B

Original Pic

Sorry they're all so small. Place your votes, please! Which one do you like best, if any??

Like I said, I've been spending a lot of time playing with Photoshop lately, so I will definitely be posting more of those images soon. Looks like you'll just have keep checking in for more awesome pics from around town. Soon to come, cliche Times Square pics. Yaaaayyyyyy! haha I suppose that's all for now. Brief post in comparison to previous posts. I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has been so supportive through my search for work. Seriously, I know I still don't have my dream job just yet, but I'm working on it. And a lot of people didn't even think I'd get what I have now. So to those of you who fit in that category, always happy to prove you wrong. For the rest of you who have been optimistic even when I wasn't so much, I genuinely thank you. I have the best friends and family in the world!!!! :) Aight, kids, I'm out!

Latest Count---Aug 2010: NIK 1 - NYC 1

25, I Think We Might Just Be Friends After All....

[This was actually written last night... I just didn't get a chance to post...]

Ahh, a blog after only two days! Hooray! This one shouldn’t necessarily burn your eyes from reading so much. Actually, I couldn’t help but type today, especially in this perfect environment for it. I’m back in Williamsburg at my lovely coffee shop, Fabiane’s (I’ve been here 3 times, so now, it’s mine). Another gorgeous evening in Brooklyn. All the cool kids are out and about on Bedford, hipsters galore, which is to be expected for a Friday night. I had an absolutely fantastic evening last night galavanting till the wee hours with Renaldy and friends, which was just an awesome ending to an amazing day.

View From The Rooftop At Renaldy's Work. [siiiiiiick!]

I had an outstanding interview yesterday with Big Hassle Media. One of my interviewers was from UGA! It’s always so nice to meet a fellow Bulldog outside of Georgia! The camaraderie and pride built from a major university is a truly beautiful thing. Besides the Georgia thing, the interview was just dandy in general! It was completely conversational, and I feel like the position is exactly what I’ve been looking for in my search in this city. Although, it is part-time so I would definitely need to pick up a 2^nd gig to keep this whole thing going. Ahh, yes, a 2^nd job. That brings me to my next point: Apple. I had pretty much given up hope on that company after being 15 min late to the interview and not having heard a single thing in a week. I figured it was a lost cause and I might as well keep looking for other options. Well, this morning I was greeted with a call back for a 3^rd and final interview. At this stage in the hiring process, things are looking pretty darn good if you make it to the final round. Basically, I’m gonna just have to make sure I’m 2 hours early to avoid botching this up! If all goes according to plan, I will have 2 ideal starter jobs in the city, one of which being directly in the music industry, the other being directly surrounded by lots of other young professionals in a similar position as myself. With over 300 employees at that specific location, that makes for an ideal networking position for me. Nothing is set in stone, and I don’t want to jump the gun by any means, but if either of these, and more so, if BOTH work out, then things will be just grand, kids. Absolutely wonderful!

Yes, things have been looking good. I have reason to be extraordinarily happy. I can’t fight this good mood that is bordering on gross. I’m not saying it’s cool to be down about things, but man, I know how some people cringe at others’ optimism and positivity. I’m asking you not to do that now. I had a rough first month here in the city. I’d go so far as to say as far as “Nikki VS the Big City” goes, the city was dominating. I know it was only a month and everyone (including myself) kept reminding me that it’s damn near impossible to make something happen in such a short period of time anywhere, much less here. Yet, I couldn’t help but feel like the losing character in a game of Mortal Kombat. At night, the more I’d think about how bleak my situation was looking, the more I’d hear the voice from that game saying “FINISH HIM!” (her, in my case). I was rejected from Starbucks. STARBUCKS?! Who has a college degree and plenty of work experience and still doesn’t get a job after an interview at Starbucks!??! If that doesn’t scream “FINISH HIM!” I don’t know what does!!! I mean, I really cannot emphasize how badly I needed just the slightest positive response. A phone call. An email. Another interview, even if I didn’t get the job. I just needed something thrown my way, and I wasn’t getting a thing. A month, actually a little over a month, without a single hint of potential can be a major Debbie Downer.  Not to mention, I explained before how utterly depressing the number 25 sounded. Not just because of age, but more so because as of now, I truly still have nothing to show for that age, professionally speaking. All my friends are making something of themselves and this kid has nothing but a degree and some internship work. So I prayed, and prayed, and prayed, for a sign. Anything, really, I actually prayed for anything. Everyone asking questions like “How long are you planning on staying there without a job?” or “When is your time limit till you give in if you don’t get anything” didn’t help. You ask me those things enough and it’s going to start seeping into my brain. Then trouble brews. At that point, I have 2 choices: 1) Really let those thoughts get to me, think about them too much, get incredibly down about it and start to wonder the answer to those questions myself. OR (the route I’d much rather take) 2) Make ABSOLUTELY sure to do the exact opposite of what they’re predicting may happen. If you know me at all, you know I like proving people wrong. That, my friends, is what I’m setting out to do. So as I embark on this next week which should *hopefully* bring be good news, I’m ready to take on option 2. I’m ready to get things started. I’m ready for my career to begin… With that being said, keep your fingers crossed, and keep this kid in your prayers that something awesome will work out. Determination… failure is not an option. Bring it on, NYC. You had the lead for a little over a month. It’s time to even up the score.  I’m predicting NYC 1 – NIK 1 by the end of the week!!! Here we go….

Quarter Of A Century... Say It Ain't So...

Dear Blogspot,

I’m sure you thought I had abandoned you. You haven’t seen any love in about 2 weeks. No pics. No videos. No words. Alas, baby, I haven’t forgotten about you. Truth is, I think about you a lot. I just can’t be tied down right now. I can’t make the commitment to post a blog once every few days or even once a week. But then again, I also don’t want to lose you. So, here I am. Asking for a second chance, if you’ll have me.

Love,

NIKvsNYC

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

AND NOW, FOR ANOTHER UNNECESSARILY LONG BLOG POST! ENJOY!

Sorry, guys, for the long awaited post. I’m sure you kids have been anxiously checking your subscription on a regular basis to see if I’ve posted another long and overly detailed blog about my New York adventures. Alas, I have been out of town, and life has finally been chaotic! CHAOS! I LOVE IT! Who would have thought someone would want such a thing in their life?? Truth is, I thrive off of chaos. I live for a hectic schedule. My attention span is short, so I need lots going on to stay fully entertained.

Travel is a GREAT form of such a distraction. Airports are chaotic by nature. 9.5 times out of 10 you’ll leave an airport with a story. My last blog began the morning of the start of my trip to SA. Even that was a story on its own. The 45 minutes of sleep to begin my travels. The 4:45 am cab ride. The power failure on the plane while taxi-ing before takeoff. Then, the fantastic birthday surprise of my beloved Juanathan! It worked out perfectly, thanks to everyone’s help keeping quiet, especially Chef Steph! The rest of the week to come was just as perfect. Time with the family was spectacular (as always!). I got to see nearly all of my gorgeous San Antonio friends. I partied like it was… well… last year, 2009. We roadtripped to Austin. Hit up all the best food joints in town. Everything was perfect, simple as that.

And then…. It happened.

It pains me to say this, but on that fateful 19th of July, I hit the quarter of a century benchmark in my life. I’m sorry, let’s just take a moment to really take this in. A quarter of a century… Halfway between 20 and 30... the start of being in my “late twenties.” It just hurts my heart to think about. I just recently graduated in my brain from voting age to legal drinking age. I feel like I’ll mentally stay around 22 for a few more years. Some people like their birthday every year at our age. They feel more mature. They feel wiser. They feel successful. I just feel… old. I know I’m not, but I can’t help it. I explained to someone that I will fully accept my age and mature to that number the day that I’m a successful professional, when I’m a contributing member of society, and I’m 100% self-sustaining. Until then, I’m 22 and I’m sticking to it!

I must say, my birthday was pretty awesome. I’m so glad I got to see everyone, both friends and family. Really, overall, the trip was what I would consider a MAJOR success. And, of course, to be expected, it was incredibly hard to leave. Never fails. That beautiful city right in the center of the greatest state in all the land will always have a hold on my heart like no other. No matter where I reside for the rest of my life, San Antonio will ALWAYS be home.

Alas, I had to get back to “DO WORK, SON!!!” That’s exactly what I’ve been doing, or trying to do. I jumped back into the city head first, ready to attack the job market and make something happen. I was warmly welcomed with interviews, career fairs, and more opportunities than I had when I left. At the same time, I have not forgotten to take a step back in the evenings and remember where I live. After all, this whole blog is about ME and NYC. As depressed as I was to leave SA, all I really have to do is walk around and open my eyes to see my surroundings here and feel better. It’s a cure all. This city, with all of its quirks, is so unique and becoming more comfortable every single day. I’ve been doing quite well meeting new, friendly faces and venturing out to see extraordinary sights I never knew existed. Every day is an adventure right now. Every day feels so new, not monotonous. It’s like the beginning of a relationship. New York and I are in our honeymoon phase and that isn’t changing anytime soon. I’m learning so much about this city, and it’s learning about me. I’ve been here about a month and a half and it’s really starting to feel like home. I get to the apt on a regular basis with a warm welcome by my lovely neighbors. They’re kind enough to check in and ask how everything is going. Even short conversation makes me feel like I belong, definitely more than I did a month and a half ago when they looked at me and Leya like we were from the moon. Every day I love my roommate more and more. I really cannot go on enough about this guy. He truly is a blessing, to say the least. He’s made this adaption so much easier, and I’m incredibly fortunate to have stumbled upon his craigslist ad! Haha

All in all, I just feel great. I’m kind of in this cloud 9 stage where the world just looks better to me. The food and drinks taste better. The air smells better. The music sounds better. The subway ride isn’t as troublesome (with the exception of last Friday. The L train was PURE EVIL!!!!!). I think everyone should move away on their own to a different city at some point in their life, if even for a few months. I think it’s a great way to evolve and learn about yourself and the world. The more obstacles you encounter and overcome on your own, the better off you’ll be. For every problem that arises, you’ll benefit tenfold from the knowledge and experience acquired. Now I feel like I’m lecturing, but really, it’s just how I see it. That being said, I’ll move on swiftly and try to wrap this thing up with a short week in review!

(Sidenote: Joao Gilberto is playing over the stereo in the coffee shop now. I really adore this place. Like really really reeeeeally adore it.)

Wednesday: Arrived back in the city. What a torturous experience. I think someone was screwing with my life that day. Maybe it was bad karma for being so hungover from the night before… correction, week before. Alas, after a very long day of traveling, I was finally home in my cozy apartment.

Thursday: FIGHT WITH SPRINT DAY! For the billionth time. We got it fixed. We’re cool again. Also, “Venture Through Manhattan, Stumble Upon A Movie Set, Chill At Grand Central Station, Accidentally Run Into The Empire State Building, And Remember Why You Love This City So Freakin’ Much” Day.

Friday: Horrific experience with the L train. Again, someone was screwing with my life. 15 minutes late to my 2^nd interview at Apple. That’s looking to have not turned out pretty.

Saturday: Street Markets. Street Markets. Street Markets. Lovely set up in Greenwich Village. Reminded me of Notting Hill’s market on Saturdays. Also, birthday dinner at Fornino’s in Williamsburg with the roomie and Hector. Two exceptional gents, if I do say so myself. As for Fornino’s, I will most definitely be frequenting that place from now on. That pizza was pure brilliance, and the sangria was outstanding. If you visit me in NYC, we’re going there!

Sunday: Legit fish & chips in Greenwich Village. No really, all the workers are Brits. This place is super legit. Their accents were just a bonus to the heaven on a plate that they serve. Caught a flick after that: “The Kids Are All Right.” It was good. Not necessarily what I was expecting considering I didn’t know much about the movie ahead of time, but it was definitely good.

Monday: Career fair! YAY! Wait… no… maybe not so YAY. Unless you consider paying 30 bucks to stand in line for hours for someone to tell you to go online and check out their positions available a ‘YAY’ kind of time. I don’t. I DO, however, definitely consider talking face to face with someone from Universal Music Group and them accepting my resume and taking particular notice to it a ‘YAY’ moment! Cloud 9.

Tuesday: Job hunt. All day long. Then time to party. Karaoke to be exact. Fugees, Billy Joel, and Spice Girls. Yessss, it was pretty sweet!

Okay I’m done. That was definitely quite a long post, but after 2 weeks, what did you expect? I’m going to try to keep to my vow to Blogspot to be a little more faithful and update more frequently as always. Otherwise, you will all have no choice but to read a novel every so often. So, hopefully you’ve read most of this, or skimmed at least, and enjoyed! Happy reading to you all! J

PS - Sorry now pics/video this time, guys. My phone isn't cooperating, and I don't have pics from a regular camera. I contemplated stealing other peoples pictures just for the sake of posting things, but that just wouldn't be right, would it? :/