cityblog

So yes, today was the first day of work.

It went well! We have six weeks of training initially with all the new hires from all the offices (New York, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, San Francisco, and London). A bunch of people that were at my interviews were also there, which was great, and I met some other really nice people.

The commute was very uneventful. I left the house shortly after 7:00 am, and was in Times Square by 7:20 am. I didn’t have to be there until 7:45 am, so I went to Starbucks, got a cup of tea, and watched the people walk by until it was time to go in.

We spent most of the day filling out forms, picking up laptops, and finding out what is expected of us. I was finished at 3pm. I walked to the bank on the way home - I’m still sort of shocked at the experience of having everything so close by, after living in the country for years. We are training at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Times Square, so it’s a very convenient location - if a bit crowded.

The rest of this week will include learning all about accounting. Tomorrow night is a reception at the famous Rainbow Room in Rockefeller Center for all of us. That should be cool.

One task I have to accomplish soon is joining a gym. There are four or five good gyms in the immediate area. I just have to find one that will be clean, safe, and affordable (easier said than done in New York City!). I have my eye on the Greenwich Ave Equinox, which looked really beautiful when I walked by yesterday. If I can afford it, I probably will. It’s worth cutting spending in other areas to be able to take good classes, swim, lift, and run - a nice thing to do before or after work.

Filed at 7:45 pm under Work
Comments Off

Some people were asking, so I give you . . .

pictures of my room!

(The room is small enough that it is difficult to get most of it in, so I apologize for the squashed perspective.)
(more…)

Filed at 8:00 pm under New York City, Photos
2 Comments

I’ve moved in!

It is very hot out - in the high 90s. We moved my stuff in yesterday and I managed to unpack it all by 4pm, which is a small miracle. My family stayed until the evening, when they headed home and Jonny, his family, and I went to see Fiddler on the Roof (for the second time) at the Minskoff Theater.

Today, we met up early and went to the Hudson River for a while. Then, I went to the Village Church on West 11th. I really liked it. I think I’ll attend there when I am in town.

Jonny left about two hours ago, and I’ve just been puttering around. Tomorrow is my first day of work! Wish me luck. :)

Filed at 5:36 pm under Life, New York City, Daily Goings-On
Comments Off

Yesterday was half-move-in day. My family and I left very early Saturday morning to go to IKEA in Paramus, New Jersey. Let me just say that IKEA is awesome. A very cool shopping experience . . . and everything is cheap.

So, I bought the following items:
- lofted double bed (birch wood frame)
- mattress (which, upon inspection, turned out to be a twin mattress . . . so we have to return it and get the correct one this weekend)
- large table-style desk
- cabinet/drawer unit
- small shelving unit
- duvet cover/pillowcases
- little desk lamp
- lightweight swivel desk chair
- pillow

The van was full of my books, pictures, and other things, so we only fit the desk in on the way down. We got to the apartment around 1:30 pm. I got my keys from Katie, my roommate, and after unloading the van my dad and I headed back to IKEA to pick up the rest of the furniture. It is only about a 45 minute drive.

We reloaded with all the furniture and went back to the apartment. The reason IKEA furniture is so inexpensive is that it all comes “flat-packed”, and you have to assemble it yourself - and let me just say, the instructions aren’t the best in the world. Five hours later, my dad and I were still attempting to set the bed up. We kept getting it screwed together and then discovering that we had to rotate a certain beam to make things work. At long last, we got the thing essentially constructed, then discovered we’d have to turn it in the room to make things fit. Well, it wouldn’t turn in the room (the room wasn’t big enough across the diagonal). So, we had to deconstruct and reconstruct it.

We didn’t quite finish the bed, but all that’s left to do is put the slats across to support the mattress, and it’s done. We brought the cabinets, desk, and chair into the room and put it under the bed - and it all fits and looks quite nice. I’m pleased with how it turned out.

This is the last full week at home for some time. I will be “moving” in on Saturday (which essentially means that my computer will be officially living at the apartment) - things like clothes, tech toys, and the like will move with me. My family and I will finish all those things on Saturday. Jonny and I will spend Sunday together, and Monday I start work! I will be coming home Friday night or Saturday morning, though. I have Monday off (it’s the 4th of July, which of course is a national holiday in the States) and I have tickets to see Dave Matthews Band at SPAC with Jonny and some other people on the 2nd.

It’s a bit weird, knowing that I literally have another home down in New York City . . . but it’s the next phase in life, and it really has been a long time coming. Mixed emotions are to be expected! But I know this is the right place for me right now.

Click below to see a couple pictures from yesterday!
(more…)

Filed at 10:34 pm under New York City, Daily Goings-On
1 Comment

I was buying houseware-type things yesterday. I’ve never had to own any of these things, since I’ve always lived in my parents’ house. I didn’t realize how pricey things like sheets are! Ahh, the sheltered life I lead (or led?).

Filed at 10:20 am under Daily Goings-On
Comments Off

Some people have been asking about my plan for the next couple weeks. This is the rough timetable:

June 15 - my rent kicks in.
June 18 - move the first batch of things into the apartment.
June 25/26 - move the second batch of things into the apartment (not clear on which day yet).
June 27 - first day of work!

I plan to be home most weekends in July and August.

Filed at 10:17 am under Daily Goings-On
Comments Off

Hi!

So you’ve stumbled across my weblog. Let me do a little explaining.

During the summer of 2004, I took a trip to Papua New Guinea to do some technical work for the Summer Institute of Linguistics in Ukarumpa. While there, I kept a blog (or “web log”) to keep the folks at home updated on my trip. It was a big hit, since people were able to see what I was doing each day. (You can see the blog starting here - go through in linear order, and don’t click the “Main” link, as it leads nowhere.)

Fast-forward to June 2005.

I’ve just finished my Information Technology degree at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Last November, I secured a job as a business analyst at Banc of America Securities - in Manhattan.

I’ve always lived upstate, so this is my first big move, and my first time living outside my parents’ house for an extended period of time. So, it’s quite an adventure!

I thought perhaps my family and friends might want to keep up with my goings-on in the city and elsewhere, so I’ve created this blog. Feel free to read with whatever level of frequency suits you, and to leave feedback.

This year will include traveling back and forth from Albany to Manhattan frequently, as well as likely trips to other parts of the country to visit friends and some European travel. I’ll post pictures as well as notes on my daily life in the city.

Enjoy!

Filed at 5:46 pm under Life
4 Comments