Hi darling friends!
It's New Year's Eve, the apartment is cleaned up and
Mike and I are now sitting in our pretty little living room on our pretty little couch, listening to music and waiting for the clock to strike midnight with some neat glasses of
Buffalo Trace. As I sit in our new apartment next to the man of my dreams on this very day, I can't help but think back on the year I've had that is 2011. Life is good - at least as good as you make it to be. I know I haven't updated you all much on my where abouts and what abouts, but I promise I will be better in updating this dear blog of mine! (Hi Dad! I promise I'll write more.) For those of you that
follow me: I'm sorry for letting this blog go stale! This year has definitely been a year of self realization, self discovery and self recovery. Those that follow me on
Facebook and
Twitter have a bit of a feel for what's been going on, but in case you don't I'm gonna do my best to get you all up to date in this post.
I rang in 2011 with my love, here in Queens, New York. He was in town up until my birthday (January 6), while still living in Alameda, California so yes, I was in a long distance relationship! February was when I decided to temporarily move back to California until April, when Mike decided to move in with me to New York. This was definitely my biggest highlight of this year. I can't even decipher how prominent this moment was. No more long distance, no more back and forth flights to California, no more empty pockets! Mike moving to New York was a sure sign that this man was the real deal, straight up. And to make matters better, both him and I flew back to New York together on
Arieson's [would-be] 4th birthday. What a symbolic way to start a journey together. :)
Mike moving in with me meant that I was finally able to live in New York full-time. I got myself an internship at a
modeling agency, and was quickly brought on as a booker. After a few months, I realized that I wasn't in fact a saleswoman so I decided to get into casting, which was the other side of the modeling business. By the help of a colleague, I landed an internship with the lovely
Natalie Joos, became her assistant and now I am a freelance casting agent under her name. I am insanely satisfied with where I'm at career wise, to say the least. I've gained a great relationship with
Natalie, and I plan to keep that relationship fruitful for years to come. She's a rad chick. I feel very blessed to be working alongside such a profound figure in the fashion world.
In June, my grandmother passed away, on the exact same day my darling Arieson passed away. It was such a heavy moment in my life - I got the call 5am my time, which was 2am California time, minutes before I was to board a plane to California to visit my son's grave. I kept it together on my 5 hour flight alone to California until I was back in NYC for a couple of days to process my feelings. I got to see my mom in California (she lives in the Philippines now), and she was probably the reason why I was able to keep my cool. But once I was back in NYC after that short weekend, I broke down. Badly. The next week I was on another flight back to California, only to make it in time for my grandmother's viewing, then to say my final goodbyes at her funeral, where she was to be buried next to my cousin (who would have been 28 this year) and my grandfather, who passed away when I was pregnant with Arieson. I took a first class flight to LA, thanks to Mike's mom, and a coach flight to SF. June was a heavy, heavy month for me. I wouldn't have survived it without my Mike. Man...
In July, I decided to chop my hair off; partly because of the intense summer heat of New York but mostly to liberate myself from all the hardships I've been through so far. When Arieson passed away, I wanted to chop my hair off, but everyone around me kept telling me how irrational and reactionary I was being. I listened, and kept my locks. I finally gained the courage to just fucking do it. I donated my butt-length hair to
Locks of Love, and never looked back. I love my boy cut, and I don't think I'll ever have long hair again. Well...we will see. ;)
Dude,
Hurricane Irene. Although it was downgraded to
Tropical Storm Irene toward the tail end of its course, it was an experience I will never forget. In California, we don't get hurricanes; we get earthquakes! Preparing for a natural disaster like this for the first time away from family was a bit nerve racking. All the while, I'm glad Mike was by my side through the mind fuck. Here was the result of the "disaster":
New York City was super lucky to have dodged this one. Prayers and positive thoughts to the families who endured the brunt of the hurricane.
Oh, did I forget to mention that Mike and I lived in Harlem for a month?! We were pretty much forced out of the establishment we were living at at the time with a "friend" in October. The timing was the absolute worst because both Mike and I were both working New York Fashion Week in September, among other things, not to mention I was still only an intern at the time, leaving us hardly any financial means to actually
move. Considering how desperate we got, we ended up in a cockroach infested slum lord apartment on 138th and Broadway for the month of October. It's safe to say that this was my worst month in New York so far. The building had an energy that so very easily sucked the life out of me, not to mention the one day of snow we had in the middle of Fall. What a mind fuck. I could have easily caved in and lost my mind, but instead I chose to keep on the path and lo and behold, got us a sweet ass spot in our beloved Woodside, Queens area in the building we've been gawking over since moving to Woodside. Although it was a shitty (and I mean
shitty) month, I don't think I would have been as thankful as I am now to be living such blessed life in New York City.
So now Mike and I are happily residing in a one bedroom apartment in Queens, with the help of a dear friend
Sophia Chang (thanks, girl!) We are still building our little space (buying furniture, kitchen appliances, etc.) but once we are completely settled, I'd love to show you all our home. Oh, I also landed a temp gig at a
branding agency. Come end of January - I hope to land a full-time position at this company, while freelancing for Natalie Joos. Mama needs health insurance!
The year was full of
SO MANY ups and downs it was almost bi-polar, but it only makes me stronger, and able to deal with stressful situations in a more constructive way. I can only hope that 2012 treats me just as well. Regardless, I know now how to deal with the speed bumps. I just gotta keep hustlin' and networking while staying positive. Positivity is key! I've met so many great people here in New York. I've also met some lame folks, and have discovered how ignorant people you've even known for awhile can be, but I can give a fuck about them. As long as I'm moving forward without those negative people, I'm all good.
Ok, this bourbon-whiskey blend is taking over me, so I best go now. Dad, you'd be proud (hi!). I hope you all come back soon to visit and read up on what's going on with me. Btw, if you do read my blog please don't be shy and let me know that you are reading! I love to meet new readers, and I would love to talk to YOU!
Here's to a wonderful and prosperous 2012. Fuck the bullshit - let's do this!!
xoxo
P.S.
I haven't forgotten about my
30 day challenge! It will commence once again soon enough.
