Being Amber Rhea

Despite picking up some sort of cold bug in the Big Apple, and dealing with all the challenges the workday presents, the trip to NYC was a huge success in the enjoyment department, like the trips to DC, Boston, and Vegas before it. (I really wish I had a suitcase with stickers all over it!)

We arrived Monday afternoon at around 2:30, just as it was beginning to snow. We flew into Newark; our cab ride into Manhattan took for damn ever, because whenever the cab would go above ~35 mph, it would start shaking and making suspicious noises. We checked into the hotel, got a couple of quick slices at a deli (New York pizza, how I missed you!), and headed to the office. As soon as we got there, we heard that the New York office had been officially closed due to weather. We stayed for a couple hours anyway… such dedicated workers.

That night we decided to go down to the Village. Patrick had suggested a restaurant on 2nd St. & 7th Ave., so we thought we’d check that out. We thought the snow was going to let up… how wrong we were. When we emerged from the subway at 8th & Broadway, there was whiteness everywhere… it looked really cool, but it wasn’t that great to walk in, especially in cheap shoes from Target. (I took some pictures, which turned out pretty good.) Actually, at first it wasn’t that bad, so we headed in the direction of the restaurant. By the time we got to Washington Square Park, we realized it was not happening. So, we ate at the famous Cafe De La Universidad (not called that anymore) across from NYU’s Main Building. We walked around the general NYU area, and it was kind of weird to be back there, and suddenly feel significantly older than the handful of students running hither and thither in the snow. (Ryan went to NYU for a bit too… interesting. So we were swapping stories and whatnot.) I mean, not that I’m so ancient at 25, but… you know. It was a different time. Sorry, I’ll try not to wax poetic in this entry. Not too much, anyway.

The next morning, we stopped for bagels on the way to the office. (Can I also just say - never before have I taken so many cabs in New York.) In addition to the pizza, how I had missed New York bagels! Actually, we went to that same bagel place 3 mornings in a row.

Ryan spent a good chunk of the day at the Search Engine Strategies conference. I cabbed it up to Columbia to meet Dacia for lunch. Hadn’t seen her in almost 4 years; it was good to catch up. We ate at a noodle place and went somewhere else for hot chocolate afterward.

Several other work people were in NY at the same time for the SES conference, so that night everyone met up at a place called Tortilla Flats, for Bingo night/drunken revelry. I stayed for about an hour and then ducked out to head to a party that Dacia had invited me to (to which…). It was fun. I hate that I have to censor myself, but I recognize that that’s the nature of the internet sometimes; one has to be pragmatic. Especially when one’s readership contains one’s boss and, potentially, one’s mom. So, let’s just say that I can put a checkmark beside one of my New Year’s resolutions. Two checkmarks, actually. (I will impart further details to the chosen few.)

The next day (Wednesday), I actually attended some of the SES conference. Specifically, the session (or whatever you call it) entitled “CSS Myths, Mistakes, & Reality.” I was so excited when I found out that one of the speakers was Eric Meyer. Ryan and the other work people who were with us thought it was hilarious. They said I should try to get his autograph. But I became such a schoolgirl, and I was too embarassed. Yes, it’s true, I have a crush on Eric Meyer. What can I say, CSS expertise is a huge turn-on! (As I recounted this on the way back from the airport Thursday night, Chris said, “Wow. That’s pretty nerdy.”)

Wednesday night, I hung out with Matt. I met up with him at a pub called McSorley’s (which dates to the 1850s and used to be a speakeasy, so supposedly it has all kinds of trapdoors and whatnot), with several work people in tow. (Hmm, that makes it sound like I was the one leading the pack. Oh well… I like that construction too much to change it.) At McSorley’s, they have two types of beer: pale and dark. And a single order automatically consists of two glasses. Obviously, I did not partake, but I found the place very amusing. We left there and Matt and I headed in one direction for a quick dinner at a deli, while everyone else went off to find a much fancier restaurant. Matt and I would’ve joined them, but then we wouldn’t have been able to go to the UCB Theatre. Which was freaking hilarious. There were two shows: the first one was called Laid Up, and consisted of several skits all with the underlying theme somehow related to prison. The second one was called Tick Tick Tick, and was “25 sketches in 25 minutes.” Good stuff.

Thursday morning I pretty much felt like crap. I spent most of the day complaining about my various aches, pains, and ailments. One thing was, my leg muscles were terribly sore, especially the backs of my calves… which confused me greatly, because we didn’t do an inordinate amount of walking. Maybe it had to do with lugging around that 5000 lb. laptop bag (I’ve told you a million times not to exagerrate!). Ryan was feeling crappy too. Don’t know when or where we picked something up, but you can always just blame it on “the dirty city.”

Anyway, Thursday was pretty much just work. We had a few meetings and they went well. By the time we got to the airport I think we were both definitely ready to head back to the ATL. The weather in NYC on Thursday was terrible; cold and so windy that it was difficult to breathe. People were asking me, “Now, are you sure you want to move back here?” (And I haven’t yet decided on that issue. There are pros and cons that need to be carefully weighed and considered.) Oh, and I mustn’t forget… getting to the airport was a major ordeal, and involved lots of going up and down escalators with our suitcases. We took a cramped New Jersey Transit train to a stop that said it was the Newark Airport, but was apparently waaaay on the outskirts. It took us to a station where we would normally get on the “AirTrain” monorail to ride to the actual airport, but the AirTrain wasn’t working at that point, so we had to wait for a bus. About fifty million people with cumbersone luggage piled onto this bus, which proceeded to take a long, roundabout route to the airport, stopping at one point to drop off two airport employees at what appeared to be their house. Ryan and I were incredulous, but I said, “Hey, at least it’s blogworthy.” It was shortly thereafter that a loud Jersey woman started yelling, “Would you mind telling us where we’re going? A little information would help!” and so on. Finally we arrived at our destination, which was a remote parking lot. The monorail was working along that stretch, so we got on and rode it to the terminal. It was a good thing we left for the airport early… all that runaround must’ve taken at least an hour.

So… that’s it. I think Chris and I are going to Augusta today, unless plans change at the last minute.