That’s Stella

My travel buddies arrived in New York this week, which is perfect timing because I move into my apartment this weekend! Haha! Despite how much GirlTravelBuddy did get on my nerves in Denver, it is good to have them around again and share my favorite city with them.

Yesterday I took them into Brooklyn and we went to Target to get a few things for BoyTravelBuddy to take back to Australia, a few things for GirlTravelBuddy when she goes onto Europe and a few items for my new apartment. I went a little crazy and bought cleaning products, quilts, bed sheets, pillows and things to complete my place. THEN we had to drag our 13 huge shopping bags onto the subway back into Manhattan. So another thing I do appreciate about Perth is the freedom to drive to a Target 10 minutes from home, and put all my groceries into the boot of my car, rather then squeeze onto the subway during peak hour and lug bags up flights of stairs. ARGH. All our bags just added to the clustaphobic space.

I hardly go into Brooklyn so I’m not use to the train ride there, but it was a slow ride, and the train kept making a sound like it was scraping against the sides of the tunnel and I must have had this worried look on my face because this sweet old black woman sitting next to me touched my hand and said we’d get out alive. Haha!

Anyway I’ll let you know how moving goes this week and take a pic of my new room!

BTW, did I mention I am living on the same street, around 100 meters from Miss Sarah Jessica Parker?

I am having a ball in New York right now. I am sure it has everything to do with the fact I’m staying with one of my girl friends right now till I move into my new apartment. I think it’s weird how we met every time I think about it. My former director in New York became one of my close friends and he introduced me to his younger sister (who was my age - she’s only 9 days older then me) because he knew we were into the same sort of things, and we hung out only once or twice the last time I was in NY but kept in touch and I’m staying with her now! And she lives in the same apartment building as her brother so it’s great to see him and his family all the time too.

I’ve always thought that if he wasn’t married and had children that I could so easily fall in love with him. He’s not my type at all, but he’s always cared for me and been there to chat and made sure I have a roof over my head and he’s intelligent (Harvard educated) and quirky and with a sexy amount of arrogance which makes me feel special that he’s always had time for me. I love hanging out with his missus and his little girls. They are completely gorgeous and they make me feel like I’m part of the family. I’ve even joined in on their Jewish religious customs too which is a fab experience.

Anyway I’ve been going out a lot with my friends and spending hours in coffee shops reading or writing and hanging out in the Village. We had dinner in Union Square tonight and went to see a late movie then drinks in the Meat Packing District. I love all the walking around too. It doesn’t make me feel so guilty about eating. Haha.

Bstein keeps calling and he wants me to meet his mom for dinner this week.

Scary.

She is really excited about meeting me and wants to make me a home cooked dinner! I couldn’t stop thinking about it whilst we were out tonight. I feel slightly anxious and a little excited and pressured! I am pretty great with parents (ask questions, make conversation, am chirpy and always help with setting the table or cleaning up) which makes me wonder if this is the time I screw it up when it means that little bit more this time round?

I hate to say this because I feel like something terrible is going to happen now that I actually feel like a whole weight has been lifted off my shoulders (welcome to the inner workings of the paranoia mind of Stella) but… I have found a place.

Finally.

Well it’s temporary - but it’s long enough for me to feel at home and want to go out and get some homely items like a rug and this awesome quilt I saw the other day. I don’t have to worry about finding another place for at least another couple months. And that’s cool because this place is not anything amazing and it’s not my ideal, but it’s ok for now and it’s in a great location in the West Village. I love love love the Village. I was living in the West Village the last time I was in New York and the other night when I went to see an apartment in the village by the Hudson River (which turned out to be a complete dud) I got all homesick and sad I could potentially not be living in the Village this time round due to budget constraints.

Last night I had had enough when this apartment in the Lower East Side I was really desperate for was offered to someone else. I mean, there is a reason I don’t like dating (REJECTION) and apartment hunting is just another means for rejection. You put yourself out there and REJECTION. Ouch. I actually cried when I got the email last night about the Lower East Side apartment. Not just because the bedroom was huge and was overlooking the street, and it was in a great community and there were markets everywhere and it was safe and only a block away from the subway and the bathroom was immaculate and the house mates had amazing careers (one for a high end fashion label that rhymes with Persace and the other for a music magazine) and the monthly rate was unbelievable, but because I had seen over 25 apartments and only 3 were potential and well, I hate to say this, but I was thinking of giving up and going home where I have loving parents and amazing friends who would tell me I was being insane and a bedroom that was all mine.

Anyway you are not going to believe this but… one of my house mates is Australian! I hate that. Going to a foreign country and ending up with Australians. She’s a chef and seems OK. My other house mate I met randomly in Starbucks! I was in Starbucks in the West Village and overheard a group of girls talking about renting and I thought I’d be like a true New Yorker and start up a random conversation (they seem to do it a lot here) and she ends up going to see the apartment with me when I went back to pay my security deposit and we hang out and we get along great and she wants to move in the same day I do! It’s not 100% confirmed yet for her, but she loves it! And not only is she cool, but she is also an instructor at Aveda salon for apprentice hairdressers!

I will be eating well and my hair will look fabulous darling!

Well… I’m in New York! I must admit that after travelling with two buddies for a month, I was a little anxious about separating from them and heading to the big apple on my own. I don’t know why considering I’ve travelled around the world twice and lived on my own in NY solo, but I suppose you get used to always having someone around.

LA was amazing. On our first night, GirlTravelBuddy and I were harassed on Fairfax and that kinda put a damper on our trip. It actually shook me up quite a bit and all I wanted to do was call Bstein and get him to look after me. BoyTravelBuddy was back at our hostel sleeping when it happened and felt pretty bad not being there to be a man. He has been growing a beard in hopes it will fend off nasties. Haha! Anyway despite that incident, I grew to really love LA. Perhaps the fact that Bstein and I caught up (after 3 years!!) and he drove me around and took me out and it was just like old times might have helped the LA Love cause. He looked different - hotter! And at first I was worried that we would have to start all over again and things would be weird and we’d be shy, but we picked up just where we left it. When it came to leaving LA, I was sad to say goodbye to him, but it was no where near as hard as it was last time when I came back to Australia, because not only was I saying goodbye to him, but I was leaving New York.

After LA, we headed to Portland… then Long Beach… then Bellingham… then Seattle and Denver. Between Bellingham and Seattle we actually went on this random last minute trip to Vancouver, British Columbia which is awesome because I’ve always wanted to go!!! Ever since I was an X File nerd and found out they filmed there! I had high expectations and was a bit disappointed.

I was keen to get out of Denver and head to New York, but now that I’m here, well… I am having a hell of a time finding an apartment. I am bed-hopping and not in a good way where you wake up in the morning feeling a little seedy. I honestly have not had such a hard time in the past trying to find an apartment here, but it has been a nightmare. PLEASE if anyone knows anyone in New York looking for a house mate, let me know! I will tell you the whole ordeal once its over (fingers crossed it’s soon) because right now I can’t even laugh about the scary old men, un-fabulous gay men, dodgy students and ridiculous living spaces I’ve come across in the last week.

BUT - it is fantastic to be back! It is awesome to be so familiar with a place you haven’t seen in years and it’s even better to see friends again.

I just so desperately need a home right now