I.. had.. the time of my life.. and I owe it all to me-e-e.

At this point in our lives, being newly grads, either starting a job or still looking for a job, being broke because we can’t adjust to a savvy lifestyle and we have to pay back loans to a school that cost around $50,000 a year, … maybe we think that it’s a low point. I guess I believed it, spewing things like “I hate working,…” (though work isn’t bad at all, but the act of getting my lazy body up and doing it is), or “I miss College,” or “it’s not the same anymore”… but then I realized, and I honestly think I forget it too often, that this year was amazing, whether it was the beginning of the year, which ironically was the end of my college career, or the back half of the year, which is the start of a brand new life… When I reflect quickly, I think life has been mundane, working all the time, being too busy, falling asleep at 11pm every weekday,… but when I really, really, really think about it and push away the clouds in my brain, I’ve just begun to live it.

In 2010, I’ve gone on 4 vacations… First - Puerto Rico in January to find myself in a sea of friends (and when I say sea, maybe I mean ocean, cause it was 20+ people!) ready to venture out in the lagoons of PR, but find themselves stuck in a disgusting bed & breakfast in the rain. There, I learned that I have to do a lot of things for myself or else I’m just going to self-destruct and it wouldn’t even affect any others, so why start bothering in the first place? Learned to really focus on what matters. Me. And if I focus on me, then I’m able to have an enjoyable time with close friends. Oh, and sharpen my arguing skills with hotel management… Then, treated myself to a nice Bahamian vacation post-graduation. This was the definition of a tropical vacation, with all you can drink, eat, and indulging in the cheesy games and shows by the resort staff. Nothing was better than letting our inner Bahamian slip out at the club and attempting to take a bucket of liquor to our face. Excursions, shopping for souvenirs, taking photos – it all contributed to a stereotypical, but absolutely fabulous trip. Summer time is the time for DCH ‘mini-vacations’… Baltimore, Hartford, Montreal (and brain fart if we went anywhere else, but I think that’s it). I felt like I was gone every other week, which I well enough could’ve been. You always learn new things, always develop new skills, strengths and meet new people, so A+ to the addition of my life learnings! Come the winter, just when I thought that my life was in shambles and I was getting stuck in the middle of work and felt trapped, like there was no end – I snowboarded on the fluffy mountains in Lake Tahoe and roamed the streets of the city of Sin, most recently.

In 2010, there were two unexpected deaths, and I won’t go too much into detail because I rather not cry while blogging (lame!), but they happened around the same time – one a family member, the other a close schoolmate. Nothing could prepare me for it, but they prepare me for realities, and the realization that yes, I really do have to appreciate everything and everyone in life, and to make it known if I do, before it’s too late.

Let’s skip the morose part. Parties, parties, parties. Oh, man. Post-graduation, a wild being entered my body and desired to roam the city streets every weekend. Not once, but twice a week, at least, and this required dancing shoes, chugging drinks from the open bars, and stumbling in the house after 5am. And I repeat – every. weekend. This went on for months, and maybe only recently this being decided to chill out and cool it down for a bit… Not saying I didn’t have fun – I had an absolute blast. It may be different from College nights drinking out of a beer funnel or ordering wings at 6am while jumping into bed with my party clothes on and waking up to your roommates (yes, Bo, here’s a shout out to you) hungover-stank-face.. but it’s a different party experience – seeing a different face everytime (hopefully), and actually thinking about what to wear because you never know who you meet, blowing cash like it’s a pack of gum, and rolling on by to 69 in Chinatown to dig in to some delicious, fried chicken wings and beef chow fun. (Don’t tell me you’d order anything else…)

Work experience is definitely different. It’s not just a summer gig, and you know that there’s no break coming up in a few months. Your job is always on the line and you always have to think about consequences, especially when wanting a vacation. But the experience is interesting, and working with others that are almost in the same position as I am, really makes me feel comfortable enough and the transition isn’t terrible. Come half a year though, and I’m ready to bolt on this lifestyle – ready to find a decent looking international business man or prince that would allow me to be a house wife who plans weddings. Oh yea. Just kidding, I’m more than happy with my better-than-decent-American-boy, who I can discuss my money struggles with as we share a meal in Baja Fresh.

So what is this silly gal saying? (That’s me!) I’m saying on the outside, post-grad may seem like it sucks, but when I think about all I did this year, all I learned, who else can do it at their age? I’m 22, I travel a substantial amount, my body is nimble enough to allow me to do so, I make just enough $ to get by and not have to go to the Salvation Army, I meet new people all the time, get my groove on and still get attention from the opposite sex, all while being able to enjoy a laughable conversation with my friends from back in the day to my girls from College.

I can’t wait to see what 2011 brings me. I already have a good feeling it’s going to start off well,… =D

It’s the good life baby. Listen to Kanye sing about it.

Wild Train Sightings

What better way to people watch people from all over NY than on the train? If I had it my way, I'd prefer not to.

You ever catch someone staring at the person next to them, in front of them, or across the train? So basically, you're staring at them stare. I wondered today, as I watched a (really short) guy stare at the e-reader and the guy next to him simultaneously shifting his eyes. E-reader. Guy. E-reader. Guy. E-reader....... And this probably went on for 10 minutes! Maybe he was trying to read along, but by the stereotypical demographics of the two, I doubt they have any similar interests in books. And so, was anyone staring at ME stare at this guy staring at the other guy?! And did that chain continue even further to a woman staring at a kid staring at me stare at the guy staring at the guy&his e-reader?!

Then there was the guy (who actually sat down and replaced the staring guy - maybe it's something magical about that seat) that ... I'm going to guess popped a pimple on his neck. Basically, it was a little bloody (sorry for the visual) and he kept dabbing on it with a tissue. Kinda gross, but that's normal enough. Well-dressed man, in his suit, lunchbox, wallet in hand... I guess the essentials, not much to carry. OH wait, I'm wrong. He then busted out his little pocket mirror from his suit pocket. Am I the only one who thinks this is a little odd? Out of 3 items that he carries to work, one is a pocket mirror... Maybe he's just prone to his pimples popping and comes prepared so he can always check it out.

The MTA never fails to provide some sort of show or interaction. Maybe they have good reason to raise fares! 2 for 1 ticket... Just freaking kidding - they need to go back to $1.50 because the MTA eats up my money like nom nom nom.

xx,
Dani

Getting to know you, getting to know all about you...

This past week I saw a movie screening of Love & Other Drugs, starring Jake Gyllenhaal (who looks absolutely like a divine creature, with his powder blue eyes that smolder you, side smirk that makes you swoon, and who pulls off Raybans like none other), and Anne Hathaway (who shows her boobs in most of the movie). Anyways, it comes in November and I highly, highly recommend it! But this isn't a review -

Anne Hathaway's character, Maggie, asked Jake's character, Jamie, to name 4 good things about himself. At first, he couldn't think of any (until later, she forced him to by presenting him with all the reasons she thinks he's good, and he said he can juggle.) Lame, but what do you say when asked that?? Have you ever thought about it?? I guess I will now. I mean, what if the male counterpart of Anne Hathaway, who will probably be super hot and free spirited, asks me that question on a whim and I can't impress this hottie quick enough because I come off as insecure, not confident and vulnerable! God please prevent that from ever happening. So let's be prepared -

1. I'm always happy. I've been told this by many people, so I guess I'll put it - Obviously it's not entirely true. There's NO WAY in all of this universe's power that anyone can always be happy. And for sure there's enough shitty happenings in my life to put me under the weather even on a beautiful day, or to shed the occasional emotional tear (or million tears) and yes, I know I cry a lot, but mainly because of movies, korean dramas/music videos, or gossip girl. Basically, why spend your days with your head down when you can just realize that life goes on, there's a life to live, and while sulking may seem easier at the moment, it's not good for the long term. You'll only hurt yourself, and others after a while by being a debbie downer. Probably hurt yourself more, because people will think you suck, and no longer want to be your friend. Therefore, yes, I am usually happy and I think that's a great quality anyone should have. When someone I am not that close with calls me for advice just because they think I'm always happy and can help em out, I pat myself on the back and graciously help. There's always bigger fish to fry, kids. (And with a bigger fish, you get a fuller stomache, and with a fuller stomache, you get a happy Danielle.)

2. I'm genuinely good. I'm not being conceited here, I'm going off of what I realized about myself and as a 22 year old, I definitely am old enough to realize characteristics from my experiences. I have bad thoughts. Everyone does. I think about the occasionally conniving scheme, or dooming eternal diarrhea on that one person who you can't stand (idea taken from z100, not myself. I'm not sick, on my own), or "why can't I just take this piece of candy from the store? It costs 25 cents!", orr a lie here or there - but when it really comes down to it, I can't find myself being actually scheming, if it hurts others. What do you know - despite the fact of being a Tin woman, I actually DO have a heart!

3. I need to be challenged. Whatever that is - work, school, activities,... No doubt about it that I love an easy assignment and I celebrate over extremely easy tests (well, those days are over), or a stressful day, BUT only in the short term. It definitely feels amazing to have a lazy day of work (hopefully a Monday or Wednesday) but how long can that last? I need something more sometimes. Related to school, if all of your classes, ALL OF THEM, for 4 years were super easy and you understood everything you ever learned, and you finished your assignments in lightning speed - wouldn't you feel unaccomplished? Don't you like sometimes not knowing, and the gratification you feel when BINGO! you've discovered the answer? I definitely love it. I love the fast paced, problem-solving environment, and I can't be satisfied with routine tasks all the time. I'm a mover. I must move! (But not literally, because though I have more muscles than the average chick, I think I might pull my back trying to move furniture up stairs. Think about all the PIVOTING that must be done!)

4. I'll leave this one alone because if I had 4 things set in stone, there's no way for me to mold and grow. I'm a grower. I must grow.

What are 4 good things about yourself?

xx
Danielle

Cause I'd get a thousand hugs, from ten thousand lightning bugs...

... that is, speaking about college and relationships. Honestly, if you're a decently looking guy or gal (okay, who am I kidding, maybe even if you're not) you'd probably meet a number, a handful, a bushel full of people to date, hook-up with, or talk to on a level that's a little more intimate than a friend - call it sexting, if you'd like. I know Eunice loves that word (not the act, the word! Don't worry, I won't tarnish your rep or get Jeff mad).

But it's different in the world post-grad. I guess you're going to read a lot of "post-grad" entries - it's just what's relevant in my life, and if you're reading this, you're probably a friend around the same age, so it's relevant to you too... I hope some 58 year old man from Arkansas isn't an avid reader on this thing. But if you are,... heeey,....... SO! Back in college, there was thousands, tens of thousands of people you can meet - considering you're interested in only one sex, cut that number in half, at least. There you go, the number of people you can interact with. Syracuse: 10,000/2 = 5,000 delicious men (yeah right). Realistically? Cutting it down to 5% is even pushing it, but the pickings are slim. But I'm not going to lie, there's still a LOT, for the time period that you're there for, and dating in the college environment is super different than outside of the 2 mile campus radius.

Let's start with exhibit A - (Taking from experience...) In college, a guy can visit you at work and bring you dinner if you're working late at, let's say, a tea house. That’s the ultimate sign of flattery. He doesn’t want you to starve, he goes out of his way to get you something to eat, he waits for you to get off, and he spends time with you while you eat your food at home and he basically waits to spend what? 30 more minutes before you yawn and call it a night. In college, you can meet up for a nice off-campus dinner versus having the same dining hall dinner and feel like you’re a million miles away from the bustle of the campus, away from the familiar faces you see everyday, and it’s just you two, in a town far, far away. In college, it makes your day to bump into him in your 10 minute passing going across campus, and you make a quick detour to grab a cup of starbucks (of course after waiting on the long ass line because it seems like the only place on campus). The longest it’d probably take this guy to reach you is probably 10 minutes, maybe 20 if he was taking school transportation (what a shame), no matter where you guys are located.

Now let’s fast forward to the “real world” and its’ dating environment. Of course, there’s exceptions, maybe two lucky people have it all set for them but for the majority, it’s not that easy to meet up that quick so that this guy can bring you a late-night snack. He might be across the city, or even in another borough! I feel like dates have to be planned out well in advance or else you’re just stuck in the middle of 34th street looking around at the buildings not knowing what to do. Maybe the problem is that there’s so much to do, that there’s too much to choose from. In college, everyone was comfortable with the known options – lunch or dinner at the top 5 common places to eat, going to a party together, staying in the dorm/apartment, or joining in on a campus event. In NYC, what will the two of you do, how can the guy impress you with the most unique date possible? There’s way too many options forcing people to have to be creative, because that’s what girls require? Sucks, but I guess it’s the truth.

I wish I was dating in the college environment again. The little things made me light up… like… dynamite…

(God, I really cannot stop loving this song!)

xx
Danielle

MBIT, you ain't got no alibi.

At a training for work, we took the Myers-Brigg Type Indicator test (Don't worry Ronnie, from the Jersey Shore, it's not tests in school. I know you don't do well on them and will probably fail everything) - but you can't fail here! It's basically a personality test and a high-class, professional one - not the ones you take on cosmopolitan.com to see if your man and you are compatible, and not the 30 sec ones online to see what your stripper name should be... It's a series of questions or phrases and asks you to choose your overall preference, without much thought, just by instinct. A lot of the questions are repetitive, I guess to show consistency of your answers...

To break it down, these are the matrices that it labels someone as:
Where you focus your attention: Extraversion (E) or Introversion (I)
The way you take in information: Sensing (S) or Intuition (N)
The way you make decisions: Thinking (T) or Feeling (F)
How you deal with the outer world Judging: (J) or Perceiving (P)

So my results were pretty reassuring. I like them. I am a ENFJ - Extraversion, Intuition, Feeling, Judging. To give you more of a sense, this was the general characteristics of someone with that combination -
• Warm, empathetic, responsive, and responsible
• Highly attuned to the emotions, needs, and motivations of others
• Find potential in everyone, want to help others fulfill their potential
• May act as catalysts for individual and group growth
• Loyal, responsive to praise and criticism
• Sociable, facilitate others in a group, and provide inspiring leadership
(There's also a 6 pg comprehensive report, but I don't think you want to read about what kind of person I am. Find out yourself!)

Tell me if I'm wrong, but it seems pretty dead on. Especially being a feeler - it basically means I really focus on the people to make a decision, and peoples' feelings first, versus concrete facts. During our exercise, we were told that we were given tickets to Paris for the whole team (ie. 5 people), then they changed it that there was only enough money to send 3 people. Each group had to decide what to do. What us feelers were debating was how to get everyone there or happy - we suggested exchanging the tickets to 5 tix to a cheaper destination, or everyone chipping in to pay the remainder 2, or some people even agreed to pull out of the draw! While other groups just said based on seniority, or by other more status requirements. You can see the clear difference in the mentality. I think this is especially true for my LIFE, because I always try to please people, always try to make decisions based on what would make the most people happy... As you go on in the hefty report, there are certain lines like "They take responsibility for organizing interactions of colleagues, friends, or family so that all are involved, harmony prevails, and people have fun." Crazy how it applies so well.

This test was so interesting - especially learning more about it through the exercises held by the HR facilitator. Good stuff, MS&L. Too bad you have to pay (I think) to take this - it also shows you where managers typically fall, which are the extreme corners, which show that all managers have the similar characteristics of T&J which are thinkers and judgers - based on more concrete facts and what's there in front of them, without caring about the people environment, because then feelings come into play. I guess I might be too much of a softie sometimes!

If your company offers this MBIT - I highly recommend you take it. I started to think about a lot of things. It opens your eyes to who you are. WOAH. But then again, they should just give me a big fat A, for AWESOME.

- D

Back to my (parents) crib

Are you still living... at home?

Though the intentions of this question may be merely a simple question, it comes with a certain tone and creates thoughts in peoples minds. That is, if the answer is yes. Why do they still live at home? They must be weird, or needy, or lazy, or poor, or a loser, and the list goes on & on.

Well, I live at home. Why? Because I'm a 22 year old that JUST graduated from school not even 4 months ago (wow, felt waaaay longer than that) that has an income enough to support my bad spending habits, shopping urges and food necessities. I don't think adding rent to that equation would end up in positive number or at least not a positive, happy me. Having to pay rent in Syracuse was different - it definitely sucked, having to remember to always go on the 15th (even though I never did) and watching your bank account deplete within the next week or so when they cash that check, but it was minimal. Our rent was $480. There's no way that would exist here in NYC or even in parts of Brooklyn.

Having your own apartment has its perks. Probably a nice set up, with some kind of view of the city... super convenient to go out at night and cab it home in about 10 minutes... the luxury of being able to invite whoever you'd like over, whenever you'd like... Not having to worry about where to go for a pre-game because you can do it right in your living room... probably owning a fullsized bed (sigh, I miss it.)... getting to design your apartment the way YOU'D like aka pimping it out into the flyest bachelorette pad ever... not having to wake up 2 hours before work because it prob can take you 20 minutes versus 1 full hour... NYSC galore! (yes, that's relevant to me now because I now have the membership)

But I can't complain. I have it made, and I will be living at home until they kick me out (or if for some reason I all of a sudden make a heaping amount of $ or find a steal. Any hookups?) I come home to delicious home cooked food, where I don't have to clean... I place my laundry in the hamper and it reappears washed and folded on my bed... I obviously don't have to worry about sending a fat, over-$1000 check to someones pocket... I don't need my house to "chill" - I can easily go somewhere else... I get along with my parents (most of the time. Not recently though, how annoying)... And I'm less likely to be alone, which means less likely to be scurred.

A lot of my co-workers who had to pick up from their town in the middle of no where and move to the big apple tell me that they're super jealous. After getting over the glitz and glamour of owning your own apt, I can see why. Watching them look for apartments makes ME stressful.

Winning pick up line? You should come over tonight. I'll tell my parents to stay upstairs ;)

- Dani

.. I'm not sure if this post had an end ..

Is it still summer?

Alas,

Is it time for that summer recap post yet? Good lord - to think that typically I would be heading up to Syracuse by the end of this week, annoyingly packing up the car and driving 4 hours to a bright campus and making multiple visits to Target before classes start, as well as rushing to the bookstore to try to grab the needed textbook but just for the ISBN number to order it for cheaper online,... and to finally have the first weeks dinner with my roommates, which would most likely be whatever our parents made for us in lovely plastic containers... but times are different now, and it doesn't even feel like I should be recapping the summer because as a post-grad, I am unaware of time all together. What date is it? Give me a second while I scroll my eyes through the calendar to try to find at least which WEEK it is.

And that's that. No more school, no more end of summer hoorahs (I guess summer official ends at the solstice for adults), no more syllabuses, and no more scanning the room for who's in your class - but that's all of the past - which I guess, this summer has been to. So let's just get on with it...

I'll start with the overall - it was good. Exciting, adventurous, never-did-that-before, learn-new-things, good?? Not really, but it was good. I definitely learned how to balance my social life with my other social/active life with working life. I started work early in June, so that only gave me about a week and a half at home to gain composure post-grad and relax, which I probably didn't, and still haven't because I have been working since (aside from a one week hiatus due to a position extension - wooo!). Early June, I also started DCH again. This time, we had the same amount of races and I travelled the same amount but I felt like it was 10x more - every other weekend I had something to do for DCH, whether it was a race out-of-state or a team BBQ or etcetera. But there's no complaints here - I finally learned that YES, I can still go out and enjoy my time with them, and my other friends, out on town, and I must say, I didn't hold back. Maybe I kicked myself in the butt in the morning (or even made some deposits to a nice plastic bag holding my delicious leftover omelette), but at least I wasn't sleeping in bed regretting that I wasn't bonding.

A short trip to Bahamas was truly worth it too. This was immediately after our weeklong post-grad festival of events in Syracuse, and I had such a great time with 5 other individuals. 5 people who are all carefree and made the trip that much more enjoyable. Holds true to the "quality versus quantity" theory. No matter how cliche, it's basically a fact.

BASICALLY, my summer was all a mixing pot of events. Some were more significant than others, I had fun along the way, but I can't seem to pinpoint anything specific at specific dates - it was just all... good. It's as if they were 19248 different ingredients put into a blender, and out comes this great looking smoothie. You don't know the exact flavor but you can taste some, but you're happy, because the final product is a success.

I hope everyone enjoyed their summer - I for sure know mine isn't over, although the weather is trying to kick us out. There will be more sloppy nights, more dinners, random outings, more mini-vacations, and then we get to enjoy fall and winter.. Our first fall & winter at home since 4 years ago.

Goodluck to all those who are going back to school too. Boy, how I wish I were you with your two 1 hour and 20 minute classes a day (but not Friday), and 3 hour breaks in between, along with getting drunk with only a 5 dollar bill. But I'm a working girl now (not like that) and it's time for me to look forward to something else great in my life :-)

So... post-grad summer 2010, kudos on making me smile (though a little more action in the love department would've been nice).

-Dani

Oh, and how can I forget? I saw my Backstreet Boys this summer (keeping the record of going to every single tour they had in the US alive!) so that's an instant win.