Welcome to New York, bitch! July 10, 2006
Posted by Niels in : Personal , add a commentRunning on next to no sleep, I landed at JFK on time, managed to track down the bus to Grand Central Station, arrived with four minutes to spare and raced to catch the train to Ossining. I made it, but my plan’s one weakness was not booking the 1 am taxi from the station to my house ahead of time. Only in New York do the taxi companies hang up on you if it’s later than they feel like going out. Oh, and screw you Verizon 411! If I tell you I’m in Ossining, how about connecting me to a taxi service that actually serves Ossining?
Fortunately, someone on the next train (an hour later) was bright enough to prebook their taxi and we shared. Since no one, including me, knew exactly where my house was, I ended up picking through my new neighbor’s mailboxes to find housenumbers. Finally walking into my new home four hours before my first day of work, I was struck by the thought, “I can’t believe I’m paying $1000 a month for this.”
Thanks for not pulling any punches, New York. I appreciate it.
Your thoughts?Leaving awkwardness behind July 7, 2006
Posted by Niels in : Personal , add a commentMy college roommate, Craig, has been attuned to people’s body language his entire life. For me, on the other hand, paying attention to body language is something new and noticing the little details (or what seem like details to me) is difficult. For the past few days, Craig has been working with me on aspects of my body language that need improvement. It’s particularly difficult to change body language because it’s something that’s been ingrained in me over the past 25 years. That said, I’m not one to give up because something is hard. It just means that I have to think about this every moment of every day. The overriding concepts are making “round”, non-awkward movements and moving from my center.
My top areas of work over the next few weeks:
Eye contact (esp. not looking around after dropping eye contact)
Keeping my knees unlocked
Keeping my mouth shut
Your thoughts?Ask me about the nipple ring July 6, 2006
Posted by Niels in : Personal , add a commentI’ve long stood by Chipotle as the best fast food around, even if the exact method by which a pound and a half of food fits inside my stomach remains a mystery. Last night, after demolishing a delicious and enormous barbacoa (the only meat worth ordering at Chipotle) and guacamole burrito, I was riding with Craig in his car and told him the best nipple ring story I’ve heard to date. I was so full that the resulting uncontrollable laughter caused me to throw up all over the car floor. (Those silly floor mats are useful after all.) I didn’t even know that could happen. Ah, Chipotle, this is the first time you’ve let me down. I’m putting you on probation. Watch yourself.
Your thoughts?