First, if you are reading this, I care about and miss you! Being in a new place defintely makes one realize all the great people they know. To my family, friends, and espeically my BKD coworkers (sorry mom, Blake and Edie), life isn't the same without you. :)
Logically, I should start with an introduction, but if you are reading this, you probably know me pretty well, so no need to explain. Basically, Blake and I took a huge risk and decided to move to what we hope is the most fun, most diverse, most life-changing city in the world. So far, those items are as-advertised, along with expensive and potentially lonely if you aren't willing to leave the comfort zone and try anything (legal) that comes your way!
For this first post, I will give a bit of the basics about the first few weeks. I have now been here 18 days, and truthfully, it seems like I have been here for months. I attribute this to the fact that each day is very long. Probably the most crazy phenomenon for me is how different each day has been so far. In Springfield, I was in a routine...to say the least. I got up, went to work, left work, worked-out, ate dinner, watched 1.65 hours of TV and went to bed at the same time (give or take 15 minues) each weekday. So far, that is not the case here!
Currently, I live in Brooklyn and have a 10-15 minute walk to the subway. On work days, I then have a 45-60 minute train ride/walk to my work. The days have started out pretty routine, with my getting to the train for either the 7 a.m. or 7:08 train. This puts me at work right around 8, where I am one of the only people in sight! To those BKD-ers out there, it is like 6 a.m. during tax season style crowds. At work, I am slowly but surely finding my place and getting started with clients, etc. The work has been difficult, but I am definitely learning a lot which was another goal in this move. I don't really have a view, so when I go to the pantry or printer, I take the long way. :) I am on the 36th floor, and on one side of the building you see Rockefeller Center and on another side, the Crysler Building. Definitely a little better than St. Louis street. Sorry guys.
After work is when the day gets crazy. To try and get some cardiovascular activity - I am waiting to join a gym until we find our permanent home - I have been walking the length of Manhattan each day and catching the subway right before the river. For this walk, I try and take different routes. 3rd Ave, Lexington, Park, Madison, and 5th are in a rotation. I am amazed at how different each Avenue feels. For the views, 5th is the best. When I say views, I mean stores! The window displays at Saks have changed twice so far, with Burberry and Pucci filling the windows this week. Ah, to be rich. Erica, I think of you most...you would love it. Unfortunately, 5th gets a little crazy around 34th street, with the Empire State Building, so from there to Union Square, I try and get East.
By the time I get to Union Square, it is about 8 p.m. and time to find dinner. The Whole Foods is insane, with the craziest color coded/number check-out system, so I have been trying to go to more local stores. The Trader Joe's wine center is close by, also with long lines, but worth it! Also, near Union Square is a great place to do some shopping, but I am trying to limit the dollar outflow...apartment search is fast approaching and I need the cash. :) I take my bags, walk to Canal and get on the train. Luckily, the train goes over the Manhattan bridge, so I get a pretty nighttime view. Unfortunately, the train is typically very full, so I am standing. Once I get home, it is pretty much eat, iron clothes for the next day and pass out. Mentally and physically tiring, but I haven't yet felt like I wasted a second of the day, which is a good feeling.
For the weekends, my great cousin Paul has helped keep me busy and find great places to go. Fun restaurants and bars are a given, but we have been to two great, local movie theatres. Like the Moxie, but older and busier. Also, I had a pumkin spice latte at a local coffee shop this afternoon that made Starbucks taste like a convenience store. For the record, The Ides of March is okay (with the handsome Ryan Gosling as the best part), but Moneyball is great. With the CARDINALS win last night, a baseball movie was a perfect choice today...also, Brad Pitt made a major comeback in my eyes.
Well, I guess I didn't have a hard time coming up with something to say! More topics for more days - my awesome family here, apartment searching (yuck), the good/bad of subways, FOOD, concerts and more. A few pictures below. I put the snow picture on facebook, but it is so crazy, I had to share here also.
love - devin
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| SNOW in Prospect Park |
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| Columbus Circle - I would LOVE to live near here |
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| Lincoln Center - hope to attend many events here |
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| On the Brooklyn Bridge |
