Well, I guess more importantly, Leigh just did me a solid and finagled a little something known as internet access for LIL OL’ ME. That’s right, les filles, I am *shhhh* posting this from work!
Next, I am now the proud owner of
Boys VANS slip-on loafers leather weave design sz.6.5
Which I have worn to work with my jeans and a vintage Mexican top. Since Ranch Jr. and Sr. are away, the dress code has been very lax. Everyone is complimenting my look today, especially my cool new Vans!
And finally, the group viewing of America’s Next Top Model has been reinstated, chez moi, for tonight! Gerard, Maria, and possibly Stefan are coming over to watch. The deal was sealed at Capone’s last night. I went to meet Mike Industrial (do not even go there), Harv & Shea. Gerard was a lucky surprise! I haven’t seen him since almost a year ago, when he came to my old apartment for another stint of ANTM.
Cash, Leigh and all the other Jewel-4-Lifers have gone out to Las Vegas for a trade show.
It’s peace and quiet over in the “Merchandising Area”. (Last week Ranch, Jr. gave one of his famous unnecessary speeches, disguised as a meeting, this one centered around the hierarchy of our company’s office seating arrangement. “This is Production Department. Of course, around the corner is shipping. This is the merchandising area. And here, well, heere, everyone knows this is the Executive area. If we could imagine that this space has four walls, as if to form a large glass room surrounding this large area. This large, spacious area is the Executive Area.”)
Over in the Merchandising Area, I sit in a grouping of six people. The desks are arranged in rows of 4, facing opposite directions, so our wheeled office chairs back up into each other when one rises from one’s seat. I am lucky enough to sit 2nd from the office thoroughfare, which encircles the 29th floor, rows and rows radiating from a central core. Where there would normally be two desks behind me and Leigh, there is a column that prohibits seats. Our grouping of 6 is intimate, comparatively speaking. However, The Others I sit with shall remain nameless, and they are both on vacation this week, so I have found solace in the peaceful grouping of Ms. Sher, Barry, and myself.
Ms. Sher displays no shame in taking advantage of the times when the Executive team is traveling. She arrives daily by 8:45. Empties her purse of necessities for the day: gold jeweler’s loupe on a long gold chain, with dangles of elongated letter charms spelling S-H-E-R , large handle-less magnifying glass in a gold and diamond frame, her glasses, her head scarf [clear plastic rain bonnet if it’s raining], and of course her lipstick. I think it is Revlon’s Cherries in the Snow. After Barry and I arrive, she dials “David”, cradles the receiver between her ear and neck [she has one of those plastic attachments to make this motion more bearable], asks about a shipment, tells David he better not be lying, then hangs up and goes down 28 floors for a coffee for 40 minutes. She returns and begins reading WWD through her gold and diamond magnifying glass. After a solid hour and twenty minutes of catching on up the fashion industry’s every movement, she takes her pocketbook and heads down to Blake & Todd for lunch. She is usually gone until about 1:30. Upon return, she rings David and sometimes another mysterious person named “Sima”, thumbs through the paper job bags in her single red Akrobin, and continues her reading through the magnifying glass, her head never ceasing to bobble. She leaves anytime from 2:30 onward, never staying past 4:00 p.m. Repeat daily, Monday through Thursday. Fridays off. It seems like not such a bad life, to be a colored gemstone buyer for a men’s jewelry company at age 75. Ms. Sher is milking it for all it’s worth.
Time for my own lunch…. She’s back!
2:20 p.m.
And now on to Barry. Barry is Guyanese, 35, married and lives in the Bronx. Now that Cash is my direct supervisor, Barry and I do not work on the same things. He sits nowhere near his two team members and keeps very quiet. He slips in and out, always with good explanations: “I am meeting the modelmaker.” “I have to go to 45th Street, and I will pick up lunch while I am out.” “I have to go to the caster.” Barry is very stealthy and gone all the time while everyone is away, leaving me to sit here and write this post in solace…
Solace or boredom? The few attractive young men in the office are all off in Vegas, doing what they do, being diamond bros. Not that I would crush on someone in this office anyway, but …
… My prospects are feeling kind of slim.
And I thought one of the major points of this blog was to discuss. boys. !
Looking to hook a man. No one’s biting. S.O.S. Lonely on jewelry island.
Still emailing my posts to myself from work! Still no internet at work!
Dare I say my life in NYC has become epic?
I dunno, gals, I’ve been here just under two years. I have my share of hardships, but I have to say that when I think about Michigan or Philadelphia, I feel I’m worlds away from the person I was and the people I knew then.
Except, of course, for you, Monica!
Dare I say I am somehow living the dream?
Now I have had paid holidays from this job for the past two years, but I dunno, I guess I never maximized Memorial Day?
Yesterday started off with Shea inviting Blake and I to a “P-Rican style” barbecue. This “barbecue”, which consisted of him, Stefan, their bandmates and Adam– some other Williamsburg character, or should I say caricature?– lined up along the 3 foot wide expanse between their building and its wrought iron fence, hibachi ablaze, hot dog packs on the ground.
Womp womp.
“You girls live in the neighborhood?” sneered this newb-to-me, Adam, shirtless and clad only in tiny. unbuttoned denim cutoffs.
“In Greenpoint,” I added.
At that moment, two gents who were previously unfamiliar to me, Pablo and Vinny, emerged from the metal cellar doors, which were laying on the sidewalk, wide-open. They spread out a good sized Oriental rug in front of the steps down to their dwelling. Blake and I glanced over at them, sizing them up. Both weighing about 110 pounds with geometric haircuts, they looked like they were setting up shop to do the door at the Darkroom.
“Vinnyyyy…. I told you that the Sunday bouncer will bring the sound system when he wakes uppppp! Don’t text him now! People were partying at St. Jerome until 9 a.m.! It’s only two! He’s definitely still asleep.”
My mistake, it was St. Jerome where they do door.
Blake and I looked around. No chips, buns, pickles, plates, cups, or even seats for that matter. A pack of hot dogs on the sidewalk.
My phone rang. “Charli, what are you DOING???? Are you at Shea’s???! Get your ass over to our place! We have veggie burgers n leftovers n all KINDS of stuff!” Krissie screeched when I picked up.
“I decided we’re having what yall yankees call a BAR-BE-CUE! Bring Blake, bring Shea and all his turd friends, bring WHOEVER. OUR PLACE! From now until dawn!!” she cried.
I looked around. Blake was wandering toward her bike, cradling her phone.
“Omg, Charli, I’m just going to run over to some party and meet some friends here from SF. I’ll find you later!”
Blake rode off to the Southside, and I biked over to what appeared to be heaven, in the form of a storefront apartment. Not far from the original barbecue, we entered into a world of bright colors, happy art, graphic paper plates and napkins, well-designed napkin holders, SEATS, and friendly dudes.
“We’ve been having people in and out all day! Mercedes is bringing a bunch of stuff from work! Help yourselves!” welcomed Krissie, pointing out veggie burgers, hot dogs and a soba noodle salad with cucumbers.
“Hey you krazy kooks, who needs a beer??” yelled someone running in from the front door.
“Is that you Donnie??!” screamed Krissie.
Donnie rode through the apartment on a skateboard, handing out beers from an open 12 pack to everyone inside.
The night continued in celebratory splendor from there, as we met friends of Krissie’s from Tennessee, Sophi’s friends from San Francisco, and other Graham Avenue denizens. “This is Melinda! I met her on the train on the way here!” exclaimed Krissie eagerly.
I couldn’t help but ease in to the feeling, and Krissie grabbed my shoulders and pushed me toward the backyard, where a bunch of guys with long hair were sitting around the table. “Shea took back my invitation to his barbecue, so I went to Daddy’s and made some new friends!” she whispered in my ear. “Aren’t they cute??”
I was just learning their names when Blake and Sophi stepped into the backyard, miraculously.
“Charli! I found Sophi!” announced Blake, as she squeezed herself onto the picnic table bench, wrapping her arms around my neck in an embrace.
“And who did you find….?” she asked, drunkenly coyly, her trademark embarrassing line of the night.
“Hey! You girls bailed on our BBQ!” I heard someone shout in defiance, as I was about to play along with Blake’s coy game and learn these fellas’ names. I spun around. Stefan and Shea had materialized as well!
“We found better food,” I responded, feeling smug.
“It’s ok, Pablo and Vinny turned our basement into Misshapes. It got real lame real quick,” quipped Shea. “Did you get anything to eat here?” he followed up curiously.
I went inside and furnished myself a plate including a veggie burger, some burrata, fresh melon and roasted eggplant. We all talked and chatted til the wee hours. The next thing I knew, Blake and I were wobbling up Manhattan Ave on our bikes, looking at the Manhattan skyline.
Please, out of town girlfriends, send me all your vibes to make these gals stick around.
Now the proud owner of Vintage 80’s WILD Brown Leather Cowboy SLOUCH Boots 8, I have created my favorite new look. Said WILD boots, American Apparel black 2” inseam shorts with zippers on the sides, and a 60s vanilla lingerie slip-dealy, as a long tank, lined underneath with a black cami. For the now-warming night, I added my ‘homemade’ Lee denim vest. (I cut the sleeves off a little boys jacket!) I must admit I am psyched on the outfit. Being broke and still looking cool.
Last night was something special. Acid Mothers Temple played at North Six, and I went with Krissie, Mercedes, their new roommate Sophi, and Blake! It felt so cool to be hitting up this amazing show with four cool chicks.
(Not that I don’t love Y’ALLwith all my heart!)
Anyway, we had quite the girl crew, and the show was rad. Everywhere you turned there was someone more fabulous than the next, from Jim Jarmusch, to just an elegant Jane Birkin-looking lass with thick strawberry blond hair, cream bell bottoms, fox collar cream coat and tan fedora. The singer of Acid Mother Temple’s looo–oooo-oooong permed Japanese hair swayed as he wailed.
Krissie can do an intense banshee call.
And we all had a blast.
Living with Blake is so natural and cool… If only I had known since moving to New York that the grass actually is greener in Greenpoint.
I am finding so many amazing vintage clothes for so cheap. Gals, you must check it out.
I wore my VINTAGE funky rare 80s sweater TOP Neiman Marcus bagnew (what is a bagnew?) to work yesterday, and my now-boss, Cash Kaufmann, complimented it! My other co-worker, stylish UWS-dwelling Renee, asked where I got it!
“Ebay!”
Cash turns and informs me, “Dali buys all of her clothes on ebay.”
!!!!!
Dali might as well be Kate Moss’s twin, style- and looks-wise.
I cannot believe I just learned this incredible secret.
And the world wll never run out of vintage clothes and they’re all different and it’s a way to be unique yet work appropriate and Dali always looks so cool, and now I know how to do it too!
Soooooooo….
Ebay shopping spree! And I’ve only spent $68 on 3 things!
I’m so excited to get dressed for North Six on Saturday. You feel me mami’s?
Pre-Cinco de Mayo at Rio Grande with Maria and new friend from work Leigh and Blake and Blaine!!!
Since when am I a Cinco de Mayo person? I’ll tell ya, New York City brings out many shades of me.
I guess I am friends with my co-workers. Never thought I would say that, as so many of them seem to be from a gotham-equivalent city on Planet Zargon or some other alternate universe.
But, I really like Leigh. She is vivacious and funny, always going on about her mama in Texas in her drawl. And how can I not love someone who sneaks up to the bar and orders a round of tequila shots with Tabasco for the table?
Somehow I was able to convene with so many different friends on one May 4th. Our strategy was to go out Cinqo de Quatro, er Quatro de Mayo, and be out till midnight. I’m not one who cares much for these such things, but hey, it was a Thursday.
I needed to see my friends! And we needed to hit up Caliente Cab Company.
Maria and I wound up at Beauty Bar on 14th Street after copious margs….
At some point we got in touch with Krissie, who met us there. If you don’t know the deal with Beauty Bar, the bar is salon-themed, and you sit at 1960s hair dryers and manicure tables, where you can paint your nails. I went there for the first time when I was 21, and I loved it. Nowadays, it’s a bit of a stand by. Krissie was giving herself a manicure… which was completely ruined by the time we got to the train. Lololol.
Maria has 3 male roommates.
Let me repeat. Maria has 3 male roommates.
And they are really cool! They all do TV stuff.
I think I shall stroll Berry Street today after I sell some clothes at Beacon’s Closet. Blake and I are going to meet up with two guys she knows from San Luis Obispo. I could use about 26 more dollars or we’ll be stuck drinking 3 Buck Chuck.
Wellllllllll, here it is at 4:00 on an April Saturday. Don’t know what I am going to do tonight.
Who knows if I should go out? I don’t think I can be trusted “out”. It’s just like when I learned that I could not be “trusted” to *not* over-drink Obolon, the 1 liter beer served at the parties at the Ukrainian club back in Philly.
Last night was Friday [of the week TT and I went down].
I shall say I’ve held it together quite nicely this week. I packed my lunch… I stayed in and watched TV with Blake all week… Did my laundry Thursday… Naturally, Friday was mine.
Blake invited me to a party last night, way up in the top of Greenpoint. She and I have been hanging out a lot…! We’re becoming close friends. She keeps me from being too sad or angry…. And her friends are cool! The party was in a massive warehouse, filled with people.
The party appeared cooler than it was in actuality, so we headed to what will be (one of) my new local spots, Lulu’s. I can’t quite describe Lulu’s. Inside, it is a very tall, dark building… With high tin ceilings… But there is not a lot of room there… And there might be an upstairs. Outside, it is a nondescript brick box of indeterminate recent era.
Blake and I chilled with Maria, Maria’s friends Jane and Brian, and lots of other people. It was so cool, and they all knew the bartender… So we received several rounds of *free*, yes free drinks.
(I think I remember now that one of my other rules for drinking is no open bar, which I guess should also mean no free drinks.)
We were scooting up the dance floor to Steely Dan’s “Dirty Work”, ELO’s “Don’t Bring Me Down”, Rod Stewart’s “Young Hearts” and so many other classics, singing our hearts out.
I needed that Friday, and I went for it. However!
I get tired on Fridays.
So I crashed at one point and said a hasty goodbye.
“Charli…. Do you know how to get home from here…?” Blake asked.
“Of course! It’s down the street!” I said, casting her off.
I made my way out of Lulu’s and down Greenpoint Avenue, make a left.
Yep, that’s the way home.
But….. I don’t remember this dirt street from the way here…. But I know I am going in the right direction… But…. why… am I standing beneath… the elevated passageway… between two massive empty warehouses?
I looked around in a panic.
West Street?
I had never heard of it.
I looked around again.
I knew I was headed in the correct general direction…
I booked it. I ran as fast as I could away from those warehouses until I wound up at… A dead end on Quay Street. Quay Street?? To my right was the water! I had no choice but to make a left.
The next block was familiar again!
I walked myself straight to Meserole Avenue, crossing Banker Street. My heart was racing.
Feeling so freed and comforted without TT, I thought I could keep that easy momentum. But instead I did something stupid….
Drank too much and walked home alone…. Through the most sketchy area ever.
Emailing myself this so I can RE-POST it when I get home. Because I do not have the Internet at work!
Hmmphhh.
I have so many things to share first thing in the morning when I am sitting here pretending to price men’s rings.
Anyway…. Had a cool night out after work! I went to d.b.a. in the East Village to meet Lucretia for happy hour. An ex has a punk band called Lioness, and she went to the show Tuesday night. Much to discuss.
Then I met what-feels-like-my-new-NYC-crew at Lit where this dude Harv was djing. Shea invited me to hang with him and some other girls I know, Maria and Kate, plus Mike Industrial, of course, and my favorite new NYC buddy, Bobby. I guess this dude Harv and some other people were djing, in what looks like a stone dungeon. It is a dirty basement… Needless to say, I had SO much fun….! (As I type this, I am sitting blissfully alone…. My 75 year-old-co-worker, Ms. Sher, is out sick today, as is Barry, the Bronx-dwelling Guyanese Luis de Guzman, who is a story in himself.)
The new girl, Leigh, has the internet. I am two years older than her.
I have been here for two years longer than her. And I do not have the internet.
Anyway (again)… I was able to turn a work outfit into an out- outfit! I wore an army green Gap bell-shaped skirt, slightly past the knee, with a surprisingly useful, slinky black sweater (Shhhhh… from an inexpensive Swedish retailer! Shhhh….) I added my sample sale Miss Sixty forest green looped leather belt…. With my vintage gray leather jacket, I did not look too office-y! The only thing is I wore some black knee high boots… They are borderline norm, but it was dark enough for those to fade away….
Lit had a drink special…. $5 Sparks until midnight…. Again….
Oops…
TT did not want to join me and my crew, so, oops again, I had fun without him! Walked home from the Bedford L, but not the scary way. Which means… I saved money for this weekend. 😉
deux mille six 