It is hard for me to imagine that today is my last day on the job here at EPB. In about a hour and a half I will be done and my NYC experience will be drawing to a close.

I look back at the beginning and not having an idea of what was in store. I keep on thinking of all that I have seen and experienced. I feel so fortunate. I keep on remembering the Dave in highschool. The one who was content with just going to school and hanging around the same friends. The same kid who had many fears. I still do today, but this summer I truly feel that when the time comes to graduate that I have in essence prepared myself. I am excited what lays ahead. Same time, I'm definitely looking forward to the next year or so of college.

Whether I'm a changed person, that is something I doubt. I still am very much easily entertained and still very much have the same sense of humor I did coming here. New York didn't make me hard. NYC was a chapter in my life, and one I'm saddened it's about to close. Here I have been, imensing myself in a whole new area of US, that is quite different than anywhere else I've been. Like a book, it feels like it is being slammed shut. Tomorrow night I will be in Houston. Over a thousand miles away from a city that I might not return to for quite some time.

Life confuses me like that.

This past weekend was the last one in the Big Apple for me. What else to do, but go explore. Friday I hung out at the apartment and read, but then met up with a friend at Union Square for a late night dinner. We went to Blue Water Grill and had some good seafood. I guess it must be pretty good because the earliest reservation we could get was at 10:30. Afterwards we went back to his NYU dorm and hung out.

Saturday I slept in and then decided if NYC is the one of the greatest cities to shop I might as well buy something. I walked around quite a bit and realized just how much I don't like shopping. I ended up with a one long sleeve shirt and a t-shirt. Afterwards it was getting pretty hot so I decided to go check out the movie Signs and get a lil A/C at the same time. I recommend the movie, it was a good flick. Heading for the exit I saw how Road to Perdition was about to start. I figure hey, if I spent 10 bucks for a ticket I might as well get to see two shows. So I snuck in. That also is a good movie. Afterwards I grabbed some Subway and then took the subway on home.

Sunday I wasn't planning on doing anything, but read. However I kept on thinking I need to go out because it'll be awhile before I am back here. I hadn't been to Brooklyn yet so what to do but go there. I checked out an area called Willliamsburg. I then went to their large park called Prospect. They have the Brooklyn Botantical gardens and it was listed in a book I have to be one of the must sees. I saw for a student it only cost a buck fifty. Obvisiouly that isn't bad so I went ahead. However not with more than ten minutes walking along the paths and looking at plants I asked myself why. Sure it didn't cost much, but plants aren't my thing.

Yesterday at work I was suppose to go to a photo shoot, watch them take photos of a coffee machine for the packaging. However there was a UST(the account I'm on) meeting and felt I should attend. I never ended up going to the shoot, but must say I wasn't all that dissappointed.

Last Spring break I bought a fake watch, that I soon would realize didn't work. I was determined to go back to Chinatown and get one that does. I walked and walked and walked. I was only going to go to one or two more before I gave up. Then there it was, a watch that I caught my eye. I hadn't seen one like it at all the other places. I payed the 10 bucks, had them adjust the size and I was on my way. What even makes this watch all the better. I looked at it this morning and it was accurate. Also in Chinatown, since the cologne is considered to have "fallen off the truck" I figured it would be a good chance to get the real thing at a much discounted price. I love how you haggle prices with them. Here's some dialogue.

How much?
22
Nevermind(knowing he'd say make a deal)
I give you good price
I'm thinking 15
You can't get it for fifteen.
Well thanks anyways
Sir, wait, 17.
No, I'm only willing to pay 15
Come on, you need to compromise. You are being cheap.
Hey I just only want to spend 15, started walking away
Ok sir, just for you 15.

After that I was getting hungry and grabbed some good ol Popeyes chicken around Times Square. Then back on home afterwards. I must have ridden 6 different trains in all yesterday.

Today I have been busy with billing. The billing guy is an idiot and my supervisor just goes crazy. I admit it's ridicolous. I went through 30 invoices or so, and I'd say 10 were correct. He never gets them perfect each month, but by far this has been the worst.

For lunch my supervisor and another guy took me out. It was really great just to sit and talk with them. I wonder what is in store for them down the road, where they will end up, or go to next. Again times like these make wonder why we meet the people we do. I don't think I'll ever see anyone here in the office ever again after tomorrow.

It's finally Friday. However that doesn't mean much will change. I've been reading books at work and then after work go Central Park and read some more. I've now completed the Harry Potter series. I am dissappointed for they have been very enjoyable reads. I have now started on the series Tales of the City. The co worker that let me know about the apartment, told me I they are good reads.

I have nothing planned this weekend and think I'll spend most of my time in the park reading. I might go to Chinatown and by a few cheap knock offs, but will see. This is my last weekend in the city and I just want to enjoy it.

The weather is back to being great. Yesterday after work I decided to go down to the financial district and catch the Staten Island Ferry. It's a nice little ride and you get to see the city and the Statue of Liberty which is nice. I then headed to Central Park to read and once it got dark headed back to the apartment.

Here's an update of what I've done. Nothing. I've been reading which is good, but there just isn't much for me to do. Actually there is nothing for me to do. I have an example to prove it. A co-worker was going to try and get the Shakespear in the park tickets. So on lunch we headed out there. Saw the line was too long, which then convinced her just how early you have to get there for seats. Anyways we walk through the park, get back to midtown and then grab some lunch. I was gone for a little over 2 hours. Which is twice as long as my break should be. No one really seemed to notice that I was gone that long. So now it's back to Harry Potter. It should be done after tomorrow, which has me wondering what I'll read next.

Determined to see a play

Twelfth Night, a Shakespear play in Central Park was something that I thought would be fun to check out. It's been going on for a month or so and only has one weekend left. The play is filled with stars such as Julia Stiles, Oliver Platt, Christoper Loyd, and the list goes on. Now the play is free and I had heard how you have to get there early when they start handing out tickets at 1pm. So Saturday I got there at 9:30 and the line was four blocks long. I was in a section that was questionable, but in my opinion was a definite no. I didn't stay long and was determined to see it then on Sunday.

Sunday I was much better prepared. I woke up early and was in the subway station by 6:30 in the morn. I got to the park by 7:15 and there was already quite the line. I was in definite good standings. I was also much better prepared with a sack lunch, four water bottles, cd player, something to sit on and a book. Thankfully there were trees for it was a definitely hot day. Also fortunately there was someone behind me in line that was alone too. Her name was Jenn and was in mid twenties. We both just talked for pretty much the whole time and played some games she had. It definitely made the time go by quicker. Afterwards I headed back to the apartment and took a nap.

The play was well performed and funny. However the plot as a whole I was not able to follow all that well. Shakespear as a whole I'm just not able to follow. It was still a good time. And hey it was free too.

The coolest NYC experience.

So who might you see in Maxim, Rolling Stones, etc. ME. Today was the photo shoot I had been invited to. While I didn't think they would choose me they ended up doing so. It was so crazy. I was at this badass studio in SoHo. The campaign is for the satellite radio company Sirrius. Anyways the ads will show face shots of people dressed like the music they listen to. A good example is a guy wearing western wear to show he listens to country. What they had me wear was punk stuff. So I met with the stylist and tried on a few things. I ended up wearing a small black tank top, dog collar kind of neckace, some crazy bracelet and a lip ring. They then sent me to a hair stylist who made my hair crazier than it usually is.. I've gotten some looks since. It'll take forever to shower it all out tonight.

Anyways the took a couple rolls of film and I was done. I just thought it was such an amazing experince. It was what I always thought it would look like. Way too many people than needed, tables full of good food and people drinking all these healty drinks. It was fun just to talk to the models in the back. One was from europe and she was just funny. It was also funny because the photographer and the client representative just thought I looked funny as punk. They were like you are just too nice of a southern kid. I had to agree. So Monday or Tuesday I find out if I made the cut and will appear in the magazines. I hope so, but I'm not counting on it. Even so I can't emphasize how much fun it is and they memory I have from it.

I also hung out with a coworker that day who I never really had the chance to. She and I just had the greatest time making fun of each other and even getting lost finding the place. It's too bad I'm just meeting her now or it would have been fun to hang or chit chat with her. Afterwards I headed to Grand Central and read and ate dinner. I decided to see if the internet cafe in Times Square was open and in fact it was. Which brings us to now.

Today we have a meeting all morning so that'll be nice. You can't go wrong with bagels, juice and doing nothing. Yesterday was somewhat interesting. We went to check out this new technology. It's this hologram technology that is amazing in the quality. Straight out of Star Wars or some other future thing. We now want to present it to the client so they can have it in bars or behind counters at convience stores. It's allready in a few places in Europe. It was really kind of fascinating.

After that I met with my boss and we both got on the same track with regards of what needs to be done. So anyways I get a call with about 15 minutes till I'm in the clear and can go home. Someone in production asked for help on an Excel task. I told them I could stay a little later, and I ended up being here till past 7. It was just me and one other person. I had nothing to do, and I did volunteer so I guess I don't have a right to complain. Still I don't get payed for the extra hours. But however last week I left early almost everyday and got payed for hours I didn't work. It all balances out in the end.

Today I saw a guy in the subway wearing a Members Only jacket. Those are so old school. Oh last night on one of the local cable channels they were showing stand up comedians. It wasn't edited and was hilarious.