My First Holidays in NYC

I would consider myself very fortunate. I have an awesome family and the greatest friends around. I try and appreciate their generosity, humor, positive attitudes, and sensitivity all year round, but I do find that during the holidays it is especially wonderful to share this time of year with them. This year as a result of my move across country, I will not be spending my holidays with them. I have my adopted NY family (James, Rhonda, Cyn, Aaron, Grace, etc etc) here and that helps more than I can say, but it is still very difficult not to be with mom and Trish. Something about laying around at mom's house eating grandma's pumpkin pie, drinking too much wine, and falling asleep on the sofa after the consumption of WAY too much food that can't be replaced.

This year I found myself orphaned in NYC for Thanksgiving, the official start to the holiday season. I was not alone and very blessed to have friends around me. Chrissy, Grace, Aaron and a ton of his friends all went out to dinner in the city. It was quite the NY style holiday. We dined at a very nice restaurant, laughed, and enjoyed great company. It wasn't family, but it was great none-the-less. I felt loved and thankful. What else really matters right?

Now comes a month of craziness. First there is my trip home mid month. I am very excited. It is always hard to go back and then leave again. I look forward to this trip more than I have in the past...its been 5 months since I have been home and it seems like eternity. Beware...I will be coming back a little different....hehe. Then following my trip is the countdown to Christmas. I will, of course, be alone in NY for Christmas and that will be strange. James is my only friend here and I am sure I will spend it with him...maybe have a nice dinner in the city and freeze my ass off. OH JOY! lol Of course the following week will be Chrissy and Tbone's arrival for the New Years Eve celebrations. I am pretty sure I will have to be sober TILL then just to make sure I survive the ordeal. Between C and T I don't think NYC can handle it. The bars in NY should start stocking up on Vodka, Jack, Jaegar, and GOOD beer now!

Regardless, I am looking forward to a chilly fun month though. Stay tuned for pics and hopefully happy faces....

Unbelievable

I know this somewhat off topic...but MY lord...I had to blog about it.

I play fantasy football...most of you know I am a football freak! I am more into it then most guys I know...lol But I love the game, the competition, and the loyalty that follows...

I had a weird week in the fantasy world. I haven't done well so far as my players keep getting injured during the game, but it's still fun....here was what happened...maybe some of you can relate to how crazy this is...

1. Note that three of my players play tonight in MNF...so I will gain more points.
2. Kevin Jones is my receiver and plays for Detroit. He isn't my superstar by far, but I can count on him for 5-10 pts each week. He was injured during the game and carted off just like Brett and McNabb were...Sad day in football.
3. My opponent's players went OFF! And I mean OFF! He scored 135 pts total yesterday. I scored 35! :( His receiver, L. Tomlinson scored 41 pts ALONE. Yes folks...that is more than what I have scored so far. I'm like wow!
4. I have three players on the field tonight (E.Manning, M.Jones-Drew, and J.Feely). There is no way on God's green turf that I can score 100 pts with these guys.

So...as much as I want to hate the sucker who I was matched up with this weekend, I can't. I have to give him the much deserved kudos that he deserves. I'm in shock. I have only seen something like this once before...and I was on the happier end of it. My first season playing fantasy I had McNabb, Westbrook, and a bunch of hot players. McNabb was on FIRE that year and even though then lost the big ring he scored me 55 pts one game ALONE. I scored 130 pts that week and was dancing like a little girl with her first barbie! HA! Yes, I just said babie folks....lol I remember winning that first fantasy season and having a smile plastered on my face for doing so well. Of course, it was my first year and I had the help of my football guru, Vini on the southside. He was a serious player and would bet thousands of dollars on fantasy leagues each season. I am, of course, tackling fantasy without him this season, so its no wonder I suck!

Its all in good competitive fun.....Way to go Mr. Roussell who calls his team the 'New England Patriots'. Kind of ironic considering the Pats beat the shit out of my Packers yesterday too.

On that note...Say a prayer for my Brett. He hurt himself yesterday and *might* be out for Monday's game against the Seahawks. :( No bueno!!!!

Bicoastal?

It's funny how I HAD to move to NYC, but it seems that I spend all my time planning, saving, etc to go home every couple months. I guess I want the best of both worlds. Afterall, Cali and NYC do offer me just about everything I could ever want. Both are cities and I am by far a city girl. Both have people I love in them, lost of entertainment, and of course oppotunity. I love NY for its night life and new adventures, but at the end of each day my heart is always in Cali. I miss my family, my friends, and the beach.

I just booked my third trip home in the short 9 months I have been in NYC and that doesnt count Las Vegas in September. I am going home Dec 13-19 and can't friggin wait. Something about the Valley air and driving to PCH or the Mall that just makes me feel at home. ALthough I have to say that from time to time I sit on my stoop, smoke, and look over at the city and shake my head in disbelief that I actually am on the other side of the country from everything I know and love. So hard, but so exciting.

This trip home will consist of some Howlin at the Moon, eating the BEST sushi, going to Malibu, sitting in traffic *sigh*, giving and getting TONS of hugs, and most of all just feeling at home.

Stay tuned for pics....hehe

Ouch, MY LIVER!!!

Ok...pissed...JUST posted this entire blog and lost it somehow! ggrr Here we go again...
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I knew when Chrissy said she was coming to NY that my liver was in for a beating. She doesn't know how to just party..she is the queen of partying to its very limit. She takes it to new levels. And I thought my sister was a party goddess. So she arrives the day before Halloween and I knew that I should get lots of sleep for who knew when I would rest again! lol

Night one....Times Square @ Tonic and Milford Bar
The night she flies in we decide to go out. I was excited since both her and Ashki were staying with me...so we could all party it up together. We headed out that night to Tonic and made friends, had drinks, and were merry. Typical NYC night. I swore there were pictures of this night...not sure where they are...hmmmm. We went home a bit early as I knew I had to work the next day. SOMEONE has to earn a living around here! lol j/k

Night two....Halloween
See previous blog "Halloween and the City".

Friday night....Mo's anyone???
I had been to Mo's a few times before. Its a fun place...the bartender is a super nice guy who likes to keep us full of liquor from about the minute we walk in till we are kicked out at 4 and he isnt too hard on the eyes either. lol We walked in and not a moment later had two shots waiting for us. :) Chrissy was pleased and we had a great time. We met some new friends (Meg) and basically did what we do best...got drunk, wild, and caused problems. :P I am guessing we had somewhere between 10-12 drinks each not including the beer bong Chrissy did. That was a sight! I, for some reason have no desire to take alcohol from a tube...call me crazy! Almost as insane and taking alcohol from BUCKETS (oooo stayed tuned for my blog following my trip home in December..hehe). I worry about my tolerance levels increasing as I know I had more than Chrissy, yet I was carrying her drunk ass home SOBER at closing. Hmmmmm.... ;)

Yay for new friends.....


Um.....yes, we were drinking and dancing to Bon Jovi...WHAT?

Saturday night.....we will just leave Saturday night sensored and plead the 5th! lol

Sunday...Packers vs. Bills @ Kettle

Once again, I drug my friends (Chrissy, James, and briefly Billy a friend of Chrissys) to the Packer bar for beer and football. Oh, and lets not forget the cheese and sausage they hand out to everyone. :) Although my boys lost, it was still tons of fun and we made new friends. I am starting to know the regulars and them me. Like a big happy yellow cheese family...awe.

Seems I have this effect on all my friends...LOL

Friday night....The Cherry Tree

Um ya...this night brings new definition to debauchary in NYC. We headed down to the bar to view a cake jumping by Aaron. I wasn't about to miss him jumping out of a cake (was crossing my fingers for a thong...haha). We got there a bit late and missed it. Ggggrrrr! We drank, danced, and had a great time. After I left, the party Chrissy apparently turned up the debauchary with some dancing on the bar and such....the rest I will leave sensored :) But lets just say the event ended with me getting a call from some dude from her phone that WASNT her....it all worked out in the end, but scared me to death. Lesson...dont leave Chrissy alone drunk to get home... :( Bad michelle!!!

Chrissy and I at the Cherry Tree

Chrissy acting like a goofball...

Love Three ways! HAHAHHA. NO, I'm not a lesbian dammit!

:) So cute!!!!!

Sunday....Packers vs Vikings @ Kettle

This was a big game between rival teams. I wasn't going to miss it for the world. I took Chrissy, James (thanks sweetie!!!), and Larry to Kettle to enjoy it with the rest of NYC who loves the Packers to watch. Chrissy being on a new 'no alcohol for a week' kick meant that this was to be an easy adventure. We watched, cheered, danced, and enjoyed every moment. There were some great plays. We watched then went home and took a much needed Sunday nap...oh yes, we are party girls....hahahaha.



Cheesehead for LIFE! GO PACK!!!

What is next? Well the poverty stricken duo will be laying low.....till Friday. We have classified Fridays as Drunk-off-our-ass Fridays since we always seem to find trouble and get black listed at bars. We are headed to Taj with Grace. The goal...to be welcomed back to Taj, not loose anybody's keys, and keep our purses close and secure! lol hehe.

Halloween and the City

Halloween? Such a strange holiday. Reminds me of any other holiday. You celebrate for no apparent reason by doing traditional things and in the end you have no idea why other than to say you got drunk and had fun. LOL

I do enjoy this one though. What other day during the year do you get to dress like a complete slut and its not only acceptable, but expected! This year I went as Goldielox. I wanted to try and top last year's Jessica Rabbit, which was by far the best costume for me EVER. I was born to be that sexy cartoon character. :) I had purchased the goldie costume last year as a second lesser costume since I was supposed to go to 3 parties that weekend. Two ended up canceling, so I had the goldie hanging in my Cali closet waiting to be used. It was cute. I sexed it up with some thigh highs and cute undies...but still I wasn't thrilled. *sigh* I searched for some other ideas that were original and cute, but alas the poverty that is my life reared its ugly head and goldie was my destiny for this year.

Chrissy flew in a couple days early to be with me for halloween. She dressed as a lightening strike victim. Holes torn all over her top...of course the girls made their appearance. ;) We were planning on attending the Cake party at Room Service, but Chrissy wasn't looking to into it, so I suggested we skip it and try the village. I knew there would be hot guys down there for Chrissy to frolick with and have fun...so there we went.

It was good times. The Village was packed with crazy drunk people EVERYWHERE. We got stopped for pictures with random people. I didn't think Goldie would be a big hit...but alas I didn't see any other girls sporting the costume...so I was pleased.

OK...here are some pics. YAY PICS!!! You can check out the rest on my smugmug account.

www.mich.smugmug.com