the resilient ones

Here you go, Mom - my number one fan.

As I was coming into work today through the usual throngs of people, I realized that this particular Tuesday was just another day in the city. New Yorkers are a fascinating and resilient group. However I still haven't adopted the semi-ridiculous words they use at times: nosh (snacking), shlep (dragging), woof (who knows...) and the pronunciation of the word huge (said youge). Still - I admire their patriotism and have never seen anything like it. I was in O'Malley's Pub and two men dressed in Army fatigue took a seat at the bar. I watched them. They didn't pay for a drink the entire time. As if on cue, fellow customers came up to them one by one - sincerely thanked them for what they do and proceeded to buy their drinks. The men hadn't just gotten back from overseas or anything - I think they were actually in the reserves. It was quite a stark contrast from the south.

Although some people became anxious over the Bin Laden video released a few days ago, it didn't stop the buses from running or decrease the inevitable waiting line to get to work.


I watch as a bum walks past a bus and gives the driver a wide grin and tall thumbs up (whilst holding a brown bagged can in the opposite hand). I can't help but laugh out loud at this. I walk under the scaffolding that shields me from the misting rain and into a huge crowd - side swiping and dodging - determining the best clear path to get through. Little red ipod in hand, pumping 50 cent and Justin's "Ayo Technology". (really great by the way) I say hello to the Jamaican security guard in my building and ride the five floors up to the place I call home for 40 hours out of the week.


Last night we had a company "event" at a place called Stitch. It was to watch/celebrate the air of Ameriprise's new commercial on Monday Night Football. So it was everyone who works on the account from MindShare (us- the media agency), Saatchi (the creative agency), and of course Ameriprise (the client). It was a nice time and the commercial was good and it aired when it was supposed to and I met the group and had some nice appetizers and cocktails. I love my job. I took a car service home and still got to bed before my self-enforced 12 o'clock curfew.

I just took my boss the car service receipt - was walking past the lounge area while passing a random coworker at the same time. I turned after we passed to look back at the flat screen TV against the wall, airing today's Memorial at Ground Zero and completely caught him turning around to look at me. Teehee.

My friend Andy and I snuck into Fashion Week last Thursday. It ends tomorrow. We walked the few blocks to Bryant Park where the tents were set up. We decided we would be assistants or hair stylists running late. Our original attempt was quickly shut down by the security guards who instructed us to go to another entrance - check for our names on a list and get a pass. So - our names were certainly not on that list. As we stood - dejected - on the sidewalk, deliberating - we noticed a man yank hard one time on a side door that blended in with the white tent building. Naturally, we followed suit. By this time, we had a model-wannabe who had joined us in our attempt to crash the show. We all three found ourselves in a tiny side room with a curtain and a cart laid out with cokes, sprites and bottled water. We finally gathered the courage to walk out into the room (we had no idea who or what was in it) and immediately were confronted by two ladies who asked us where we had come from/what we were doing/that sort of thing. Andy took charge and explained that we were late assistants. She told us to go out in the main room because it wasn't time to be backstage - or something. Whatever - we made it. It was pretty funny. We drank for free and mingled with models and even saw Nigel Barker (hottie British judge from ANTM). Fun times. I left early, but Andy went into the Gottex show. Deece.