I commented on someone's status update on Facebook with something they didn't like and now I can't 'like' things or make comments on status updates or photos on his or his wife's Facebook. This bothers me more than I care for, but, like so many people, I've decided they can't really be my friends. It's a comment, an opinion - what difference does it make?
This is why I love New York. There's no bullshit there. Being here sucks. I work in a customer orientated business, yet the staff, including the General Manager, don't give a shit about customers, and would rather I take abuse from customers on the phone instead of getting the sales team to return calls. A customer should not be waiting over a week for a phone call, and I should not be having to spend every day apologising for the staff, who are 'so busy' that they can sit there twiddling their thumbs and sitting outside smoking 5 or 6 times a day. They all talk a load of bollocks, and the GM's opinion seems to be that if he shouts loud enough he doesn't have to fully deal with the problem. What an idiot.
I am just not happy here. It's so frustrating being in one place and wanting so much to be in another and knowing you can't be there. Yes, I have next year and planning a road trip with Catherine to look forward to and keep me occupied, but it's just hard not being able to attain what it is I want out of life.
I enjoy my job, but it's frustrating. I love my family, but they're frustrating. I don't feel like this is my home anymore. New York is home to me, and it just seems unfair sometimes that you can't be where you want and need to be. I understand that they don't want too many immigrants and the like, but I think it should be considered different when you're so much in love with a place that it makes you unhappy to be anywhere else. I think the fact that I go back every year that the place means a lot, and if there was some way to prove how much it means to me then I would if it meant that I could stay.
I have never felt such immediate understanding with another human as I did with Bobby, the guy who tattooed me, when he saw the scars on my arm and asked what had happened to me. I said 'I happened to me; life's just shit sometimes you know', and he replied with 'yeah, that's why I tattoo myself'. It's funny, but it is the little things.
I enjoy my job, but it's frustrating. I love my family, but they're frustrating. I don't feel like this is my home anymore. New York is home to me, and it just seems unfair sometimes that you can't be where you want and need to be. I understand that they don't want too many immigrants and the like, but I think it should be considered different when you're so much in love with a place that it makes you unhappy to be anywhere else. I think the fact that I go back every year that the place means a lot, and if there was some way to prove how much it means to me then I would if it meant that I could stay.
I have never felt such immediate understanding with another human as I did with Bobby, the guy who tattooed me, when he saw the scars on my arm and asked what had happened to me. I said 'I happened to me; life's just shit sometimes you know', and he replied with 'yeah, that's why I tattoo myself'. It's funny, but it is the little things.
So, it's been that long since I updated, and even then not fully, that I thought it was about time to do a full and proper blog posting! I was just so busy whilst I was in New York, and now I'm back in Leeds, jet lag is kicking my arse something proper, so it seems like a good a time as any!
So I left my last post after my birthday. On Saturday I started the day fairly relaxed, going out for breakfast (probably just coffee and a croissant at the Starbucks on the corner) and headed uptown to buy one of those stupid brown Bloomingdale's bags that everyone insists on having that I personally don't see the point in, but my auntie wanted it for someone for a Christmas present, so whatever, and some product for my dad's girlfriend that we can't get over here. Then it was back down to the hotel to listen to the Rhinos game. It was the semi-finals of the Superleague, and they lost. Gutted! Still, given all the injuries and issues they've had this season, it's been an incredible year, even though they haven't actually finished with any silverware. After this had finished I decided to cheer myself up by going to Shake Shack. I got distracted by some market vendors at an event in Madison Square Park beforehand, but after waiting in line for fifty minutes for a burger, fries and a shake, I ended up sharing some of my fries with this little creature, who ended up climbing up on my shoulder to see if I had any more when they eventually ran out! So cute! I just watched some free music in Madison Square Park whilst eating before heading to the Rangers game. The evening was spent heading to New Jersey to see the Rangers play the Devils again. Once off of the PATH train there were no signposts indicating which way it was to the Prudential Center, and in the end I asked some Devils fans, who were really nice - but I was sure to tell them that I was a friendly Ranger! Again, they won in overtime, and it was a good game, although I was sat in the nosebleed section.
Sunday was a very enjoyable, yet busy day. After a slow start to the morning, I grabbed breakfast at Starbucks and headed down to Little Italy to the San Gennaro festival, which is held every year to celebrate the patron saint of Naples, I believe. It was the last day, so there were really only food vendors and a few selling t-shirts and Italian memorabilia or jewellery. I had some pizza and deep fried Oreos, which were yummy, but sickly - a bit like a more carbohydrate-laden deep fried Mars bar - and then headed to Coney Island to meet Cher. The weather wasn't particularly nice, but we went on the Wonder Wheel, and then headed to Luna Park for some unlimited riding! It was enjoyable, but I really wished that the Cyclone had been open - I thought it would have been, what with the rides and amusements open just next door. However, it was not to be, and at 5:30pm I had to leave to get the Subway back up to Chelsea, quick change in the hotel, and then I headed to Yankee Stadium to watch them play the Red Sox. What a fantastic game. After getting off to a slow start, the Yankees eventually won it in the tenth in an exciting finished that meant the game didn't finish until after midnight, and even with the rain pouring, so many stayed to watch the conclusion.
Monday was a ridiculously early start considering I didn't get to bed until 1:40am. I had to get up at 5:30am to be at the Port Authority for 6:30 to collect my tickets and get a Greyhound to Atlantic City. Well, what a disappointment Atlantic City was. It was okay, and I'm sure in the summer when everything's open, it's really nice, but on this day it was rainy and overcast, a lot of things were closed, including part of the Boardwalk and the Steel Pier, so there wasn't really a lot to do. I went to the Hard Rock Cafe to get a shot glass, and headed to House of Blues for some food, only to find it closed, so I ended up at Johnny Rockets, which was so good! Another burger and fries, but if you can't eat them in America, where can you?! I wandered along the Boardwalk and the beach, before heading back to some shopping outlets, where I bought some stuff from Converse and Gap. I then went for a Starbucks and ended up getting an earlier Greyhound back to New York than originally planned, because I was tired and couldn't be bothered doing anything else!
Tuesday was Cher's last day in the city, and my last full day, so we went to Ess-A-Bagel for breakfast (best bagels in the city) before I headed down to Battery Park to go across to the Statue of Liberty and up to the crown. I had bought tickets to do this in January and completely forgot about it, but this time I managed to remember! It was a horrible day to be going over, the worst day (weather wise) the whole trip. It meant the waters were choppy, resulting in not exactly smooth sailing. Still some amazing views as we travelled across though, and climbing the stairs wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, although I did stop a couple of times on the way up. The crown was a lot smaller than I thought it was going to be, and I imagine on a clear day it is absolutely spectacular. However, because you have to book crown tickets so far in advance, there is just no judging how it's going to be. When I went they had sold out of crown tickets until December! It's amazing just how many people want to go up compared to those that actually can. After some pictures, a climb back down and a boat back to Battery Park via Ellis Island (I didn't get off) I found myself in the East Village. I spent five hours getting a half sleeve tattoo at Addiction Ink! It's of a girl listening to music, surrounded by roses, with the lyrics "Sit back New York City, you're not cute, but you're oh so pretty" and musical notes above her.
It was sore and red, but is healing nicely now. It's just bruised, a bit sore, and starting to itch, which I can only consider a good thing! Hopefully it won't be too long until all the redness, swelling and bruising is gone and hopefully it will be wonderful! I have no idea how to tell my father, but I imagine he is going to freak when he sees it! Good job it's turning to winter and I can sort of put it off for a while - at least until it is healed fully!
I had such a good time in New York. I literally cried on the plane ride home. It's the worst part, coming home. I wish I could just stay there forever. It's the only place I truly feel accepted, unjudged, free and at home. One day I will get there, of that I am sure!
For now, I think it's time to try and get some sleep. I may write more tomorrow, but I may not! Goodnight!
Sunday was a very enjoyable, yet busy day. After a slow start to the morning, I grabbed breakfast at Starbucks and headed down to Little Italy to the San Gennaro festival, which is held every year to celebrate the patron saint of Naples, I believe. It was the last day, so there were really only food vendors and a few selling t-shirts and Italian memorabilia or jewellery. I had some pizza and deep fried Oreos, which were yummy, but sickly - a bit like a more carbohydrate-laden deep fried Mars bar - and then headed to Coney Island to meet Cher. The weather wasn't particularly nice, but we went on the Wonder Wheel, and then headed to Luna Park for some unlimited riding! It was enjoyable, but I really wished that the Cyclone had been open - I thought it would have been, what with the rides and amusements open just next door. However, it was not to be, and at 5:30pm I had to leave to get the Subway back up to Chelsea, quick change in the hotel, and then I headed to Yankee Stadium to watch them play the Red Sox. What a fantastic game. After getting off to a slow start, the Yankees eventually won it in the tenth in an exciting finished that meant the game didn't finish until after midnight, and even with the rain pouring, so many stayed to watch the conclusion.
Monday was a ridiculously early start considering I didn't get to bed until 1:40am. I had to get up at 5:30am to be at the Port Authority for 6:30 to collect my tickets and get a Greyhound to Atlantic City. Well, what a disappointment Atlantic City was. It was okay, and I'm sure in the summer when everything's open, it's really nice, but on this day it was rainy and overcast, a lot of things were closed, including part of the Boardwalk and the Steel Pier, so there wasn't really a lot to do. I went to the Hard Rock Cafe to get a shot glass, and headed to House of Blues for some food, only to find it closed, so I ended up at Johnny Rockets, which was so good! Another burger and fries, but if you can't eat them in America, where can you?! I wandered along the Boardwalk and the beach, before heading back to some shopping outlets, where I bought some stuff from Converse and Gap. I then went for a Starbucks and ended up getting an earlier Greyhound back to New York than originally planned, because I was tired and couldn't be bothered doing anything else!
It was sore and red, but is healing nicely now. It's just bruised, a bit sore, and starting to itch, which I can only consider a good thing! Hopefully it won't be too long until all the redness, swelling and bruising is gone and hopefully it will be wonderful! I have no idea how to tell my father, but I imagine he is going to freak when he sees it! Good job it's turning to winter and I can sort of put it off for a while - at least until it is healed fully!
I had such a good time in New York. I literally cried on the plane ride home. It's the worst part, coming home. I wish I could just stay there forever. It's the only place I truly feel accepted, unjudged, free and at home. One day I will get there, of that I am sure!
For now, I think it's time to try and get some sleep. I may write more tomorrow, but I may not! Goodnight!
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