The good news is that I’m moving! The better news is that my charming studio apartment is going to be available in early June (and I don’t mean charming in the sense that it’s a shoebox…it has crown molding and beautiful hardwood floors, people)!

Contact me or shoot me a message if you want more information!

The details:

• Brownstone apartment on pretty and quiet street on the UWS - super close to Central Park, Trader Joes, Columbus Circle, Magnolia Bakery, Lululemon (worth mentioning?), and A-C-E and 1-2-3 subway lines. 
• Studio - but, as you can see from the pics below, I have a sofa sectional, full living room set, and plenty of room for a king size bed!
• Dishwasher!
• Nice neighbors who are actually quiet!
• Flexible move-in date (early June)
• NO BROKER FEE (if I recommend you personally)
• Incredibly fair (and below market) rent for the space/location.
• Rent stabilized (so you don’t need to worry about crazy rent increases year after year).

A few more details:

• Up for grabs to the new tenant: the separation curtains (they’re on a track so you can open/close them), the air conditioner (which was built into the window by a brilliant engineer so that it’s weather-proof all year round), and the blackout window shades (which were purchased since it’s street facing and there are street lights at night!), and a microwave…all priced super fair!
• You can keep the current paint colors (I picked them) or you can provide the paint and the landlord will paint it any color you want prior to moving in!

FYI - I don’t get any kickback or anything from pimping out my apartment.  I’ve really enjoyed the place and just want it to go to someone who really loves it as well!

Aside from sharing my story about Jack and Suzy, I’ve been pretty quiet lately. This is usually the part where I would utilize my favorite bullet-point list feature to rattle off all the different reasons as to why that is (i.e. I’m busy and stuff) but there’s really only one that directly relates to this blog…

• Haters: Both the Anonymous and IRL varieties. 

It’s been an interesting and eye-opening few weeks for me and some others who openly share their lives in this space. Whether it’s blog-gossiping websites that take their remorseless judgment and outrageous accusations to new levels OR the conversations heard around the water cooler…it stings. 

Listen…I get it! We share stuff that a lot of people don’t care about. We post selfies and tell you what we’re wearing because - gasp - some people actually want to know. We have great days, moments, trips, dates, dining experiences, and hair days and sometimes it’s REALLY fun to document that stuff. I call it JOY…and why shouldn’t that be shared?

On the flip-side, and to be fair, many might argue that what I refer to as joy can also be viewed as VANITY. That’s a valid point to which I can understand and I’ll even admit that I can be vain at times. I’ll own that.

I do this blogging thing for so many reasons.  It’s fun and somewhat creative. It’s a coping mechanism. It’s a way to connect with my family and friends. It continues to lead to new friendships. It’s a digital scrapbook of my life. I could keep going but this post is already too long for most people to actually read so I’m going to try to move it along and make my point…

With all that being said, does that mean I’m practically inviting people who don’t really know me to judge my decisions, purchases, and experiences?

Yes, it does. 

Does that mean that I run the risk of being mocked and and made fun of because I confess my fails (mostly the dating variety as of late), share my hopes, and tell a few stories?

Yes, it does.

Does that mean I’m going to need to grow a thicker skin?

Yes, it does.

But here’s the thing…If you don’t like what I have to write, photograph, and share…then please don’t stick around. What’s the point? Not that you care, but there’s no love lost and I never have been one to hold a grudge. I’ll continue to smile and say hello to those of you who read this and see me on a somewhat daily basis. Why? Because even though I’ve been the fodder for gossip by people who only know what they’ve gathered from EmInNYC…people who have never made the effort to get to know me…people who I’ve done nothing but be open, honest, and myself with…it’s not fair for me to just write you off and categorize you as jerks. Haters, maybe, but jerks you’re not.  The simple fact is that you just find value in gossiping about and/or laughing at the expense of real people and that is something I don’t really assimilate. We agree to disagree. We cool.

Clearly, I’ve spent too much time thinking about this stuff. It’s not like it keeps me up at night but it’s time that could have been used towards something positive and productive. While I would really love to embrace the whole too cool to care attitude that I admire in so many…even an admirable quality for haters…that’s just not me. Maybe it’s a mistake to share this? Perhaps that by addressing my thoughts and feelings about the issue publicly, I’m  allowing the cynics to “win” (but what they’re competing for, I’m not sure…)?  Maybe I’ll regret this entire post and the time I’ve spent thinking about it once I’m able to acquire the apathy required to deal with such criticism (I hear you really hone in on that in your mid-late 30’s…but let’s not rush things)?  I don’t have the answers yet…but for now, I’ve said my piece and I feel better.  

But wait, there’s more…

I know that I’m not alone with these feelings and there are so many others who just don’t get the need for the negativity either.  I also know that for every  mock, accusation, or insulting comment/message I receive, there are so many wonderful, supportive, and delightful contraries to be thankful for and focus on.

Now I’m REALLY done…well…with that topic…for now anyway….

because here’s a picture (SURPRISE! It’s of me! What of it?) from the event I attended post shoemergency-Jack session on Tuesday night. I happen to like it…a lot…so of course it’s my avatar for all things social media…

This is kind of a lengthy post so if you don’t want to read through, here’s the short version: I poked a hole in my new shoes, chatted with Jack Welch about it, tweeted about talking to Jack Welch about it, and then Suzy Welch acknowledged my existence. The end.

So…

I had a bit of a shoemergency last night and needed to loosen the straps on my new shoes (actually, just the left shoe for those of you who know me well). It’s not rocket science and I pretty much could have taken this task on by my lonesome but I really didn’t want to screw it up (um, nobody wants to really alter pricey shoes on their own).

So, I went to a professional and asked my office building engineer to help me out!  I should definitely take this opportunity to mention that I have the best colleagues in NYC. Um, clearly they come through for the really important stuff.

Bam…with my newly loosened strappy sandals, I was back in action and ready for the evening to begin so I hopped on the elevator to head to my event.  At the next floor, the elevator stopped and the doors opened to reveal Mr. Jack Welch awaiting to step in. 

Em: Hi there, Jack!

Jack: Hi! How are you?

Em: I’m great.  Did you have a productive day?

Jack: (laughs) We certainly did. Did you?

Em: Yes, of course! In fact, I just convinced my engineer co-worker to MacGyver my new shoes (proceed to show him the play by play on my iPhone).

Jack: well you certainly know how to use your resources!

That was pretty much it.  Great conversation, right? Right.

Naturally, I thought it was hilarious that I have direct access and undivided attention from JACK THE MAN WELCH and my bonehead conversation revolved around my freaking shoes. Great job, Em. Mr. JW is a force and his wife, Suzy, is even cooler than he is (IMHO). Now that’s a power couple that I’d like to have a dinner party with someday. 

Well…because I find the humor in these things…I tweeted the following:

Immediately followed by:

And then when I woke up this morning I saw this:

And my DAY was, in fact, MADE (just my day though… because that Life=MADE comment was a little dramatic).

The End.

• Tags
• cool story emily
• jack welch
• suzy welch
• 10-10-10

(Alternate Title: A nonsensical display of thoughts/realizations that many of you don’t care about but sometimes it just feels good to write it out and press that little blue “publish” button)

Hey Guy,

Our first few dates were so much fun! I really enjoyed getting to know you and you did a really great job with kicking all that stupid game playing that we’re supposed to do to the curb. It was clear that I was into you because I flat out told you as much (mistake #1).  It was safe to assume that my disclosure was well received since you reciprocated, right? (mistake #2)

Wrong.

Because then I went away on my South American travels and returned to your less enthusiastic disposition that can only be described as I’m-still-interested-in-you-but-I’m-not-really-available*-and-I-don’t-want-things-to-get-complicated-so-let’s-just-keep-it-casual-type-of-thing.

I try to be breezy, low-maintenance (haha) and optimistic in a ya-never-know-what-might-happen-kind-of-way so I rolled with it (mistake #3)…

But about last night…

Watching an NBA playoff game and catching up on the last few weeks sounded like a satisfying evening…but it wasn’t…everything about it was forced and awkward and I wasn’t myself.  It’s not me it’s you. No, really.

Oh, and I’m pretty sure your mom and/or sister haven’t been to NYC for a visit…so it would have been nice of you to put the rogue CZ stud earring that was on your side table away and out of eyesight for your post CZ-stud-girl dates. it’s just the polite thing to do.

You’re a dope (but when the timing is right you’ll make a decent boyfriend because deep down I even believe that the dopes are good guys that just aren’t THERE yet…so good luck with that!)

K.Thanks.Bye.

Em

PS: I’m Sorry that your Denver Nuggets lost. No I’m not. Go Knicks.

(*available in the sense that you don’t, in fact, live in NYC.  But hey…we met on Tinder so my expectations should have been pretty low to begin with!)

Postmortem: because why not take the opportunity to learn from your mistakes…

Mistake #1 - Being so vocal and upfront: Emily…just keep your mouth shut! A little mystery never hurt anybody! This guy probably thought you were planning the wedding (I wasn’t…but I did see a June or July weekend in Nantucket in our future…just keeping it real here). 

Mistake #2-Assuming his reciprocity carried the same value when I verbally thew up my thoughts/feelings about him: Remember that a lot of dudes will just tell you what you want to hear because it’s just easier…nobody likes to hurt someones feelings.

Mistake #3 - Trying to be something I’m not: At some point I’m just going to need to accept the fact that I’m not actually low-maintenance…because I’d rather be high-maintenance than lower my standards and values. Don’t start on me with any of that “your expectations are too high” business.

Finally, here’s my outfit today…because there’s far too much text and not enough color in this post…

• Tags
• dating
• guys
• onward

And I’ve had a full week to really think about what I recently mentioned (that all vague everything post about new goals and whatnot). If nothing else, I fear that if I don’t publicly announce this new endeavor in some way, I might back out…

I’m committing to run the 2013 ING NEW YORK CITY MARATHON!!!*.

I am terrified…but what first-time marathon trainee isn’t?

I’m also really excited at the thought of accomplishing something BIG. I know I’ll have the most amazing team of cheerleaders in Brooklyn and Manhattan to get me through this and if history repeats itself then I’ll have more than enough support from all of YOU guys (the internets) to carry me from the start of my 5-months of training to the finish line (which happens to be mere blocks from my front door…thank goodness!).

The first weekend of November (aside from 2012) has always been one of my very favorite of each and every year.  This time…I’m pretty sure it will be the best yet (and the most painful).

Lace up and let’s go!

(countdown image via NYRR site…altered…obvi)

(*OK, so i haven’t exactly received a guaranteed entry yet. I’m signed up for the lottery but all odds are against me.  I’ve been researching the various charitable organizations that partner with this race and will likely end up joining one of those teams.  A new community of people coming together to achieve personal goals while helping others? I’m absolutely down with that! Count me in!)

(Also - I’ve never been so nervous to hit the “publish” button for a post…)

• Tags
• running
• nyc
• bucketlist