I couldn't adequately express it in my current state of mind.

After a great weekend...
I'm back on an island far-far away.

Why didn't someone nail my feet to the ground?

Just the facts, people.

Today, I'm not a fan of:

1. Running late (okay, later than usual) for work. Not that I have a set time to be in the office anyway.
2. Having 525,600 things on my to-do list. That have to be finished today.
3. My massive headache.
   
4. Being at the office until God-knows-when.
   
5. The fact that I have nearly finished the book I checked out on Saturday, and I don't have time to go to the library tonight.
6. Being freezing when I'm in the shade, but hot in the sun. Pick a temperature, NYC!
7. My chipped nail polish.
   

However, I do like:

1. Being less than 24 hours from Norman.
2. MGMT and Rufus Wainwright on my iPod.
3. My sassy shoes.
4. Cupcakes from "Burgers and Cupcakes"
5. Being engrossed in the world of Michael Tolliver and company (of course the gay man is my favorite character).
6. Having everything packed and ready to go to Home Sweet 'Homa.
7. The potential of getting a manicure tonight. If I get back to my 'hood before midnight.

Weekend Wars

"Twisted diamond heart, I'm the weekend warrior.
My predictions are the only things I have.
I can amplify the sound and light and love."
-- MGMT, Weekend Wars

It feels like every weekend around here is absolute non-stop craziness. There's always something going on. It's a nice change from the routine of the week: get up, go to work, stay at work until God-knows-when, come home, prepare for the next day at work, go to bed, repeat. The time frame from 6:00 p.m. Friday until bedtime on Sunday is brimming with opportunity to take in what the city has to offer, revitalize myself and to spend time with my friends, so I try my hardest to take advantage of it. I mean, really, who doesn't love the weekend?

Highlights from this one:

• My first Rudy's experience with the TFA crowd. $7 pitchers, free hotdogs, a jukebox, and a crowd of suits unwinding. Seems pretty good to me.
• College: The Musical. It is part of the New York Musical Theater Festival, and was pretty entertaining, if lacking much of a plot besides a party. I guess that's pretty accurate, though. Right?
• The New York Public Library. Justin and I wandered around the extremely gorgeous, famous campus, and then checked out books from the Mid-Manhattan branch.
• A little foray down Fifth Avenue is always welcome. And I even impressed myself with my restraint at Bendel's.
  
• [Title of Show] from the second row. Amazing, of course.
• Hanging out with the [tos] cast afterwards, and hearing about a great idea Jeff has coming up. (Check out their blog for more updates.)
• Meeting the incredibly talented and extremely sweet Beth Leavel.
• Junior's cheesecake. I know, it's lame that cheesecake is a highlight, but it's so good.
• Spending a lazy, quiet day at home today, preparing for the week and packing for my trip to Norman.
  

(P.S. This picture is of the crowd on 44th St, waiting outside the theater where Equus is playing. They are gathered up here waiting to catch a glimpse of Daniel Radcliffe coming out of the stage door. Out of control.)

Happy 1DL!

Today is the 1st application deadline for Teach For America. (You potential applicants, be sure to get your application completed by 2:59 a.m. EST tonight!) This means that there's a different vibe around the office. Some people are going nuts with things to finish, others are more chill, but everyone's excited to see how many people apply to be a part of the movement.

In the meantime, everyone is sending around fun little "inspirational" links, myself included. It started when one of our directors, Rachel, Rick-Rolled our cohort, and it got passed along to the entire RT. So, not to be outdone, I passed a link to this lovely video. Try not to fall out of your chair or pee your pants.

Happy 1DL everyone, and watch out for the Bobby Batroniks out there.

If I ever get back to Oklahoma...

... gonna nail my feet to the ground."
- Jason Boland

I'm officially one week away from being back in Norman. I'll be there from Thursday to Monday, and I just cannot wait to see all of my Okie loves. My biggest plans are just to see all of the wonderful people I miss, but there are a few things I'm looking forward to while I'm in town:

1. OU football. I mean, hello, a-duh. My wonderful twin is selling me her ticket! My only complaint is how much the face value has jumped since last year. Ridic.
2. The Mont. Equally obvi. Sooner Swirls and a select number of shots are the only thing allowed. I’m pretty sure I’m not drinking again until I get to Norman in anticipation of being reunited with the most magical place on earth. (This statement might be revoked, depending on the stress/celebration level after 1DL this Friday.)
   
3. Phi Lamb chapter. I can’t remember what chapter is like not as an officer. And I want to see this next set of lovely ladies do me proud. (Plus there are 2 particular new Lambs I'm excited to meet, for reasons I cannot reveal on the blog just yet.)
4. The Phi Delt house. Sorry for partyin’, and for being old balls, but it’s just too intrinsic a part of my past four years to forsake it on a return trip. Besides, I still have a toothbrush in Ross’ room.
5. Campus Corner. Like I really need more temptation to spend money than I get on a regular basis up here, I know. But nowhere has earrings quite like Antique Garden.
6. Driving. Dudes, I don’t even own a car anymore. How SAD is that. However, I’m still insured. Who wants to let me behind their steering wheel? Please, pretty please?
7. The local food. I’ll just list off a few places, and we can take it from there: Café Plaid, Raising Cane’s, BJs, Ted’s, Mr. Goodcents, Eskimo Sno, Classics.
   
8. The North Oval. This is my favorite place on all of campus. I miss walking across it on sunny, lazy Friday afternoons after choir. You know what I’m thinking? A picnic at the Spoonholder sounds like a wonderful plan.
9. Good old fashioned Southern hospitality. And normalcy. Don’t get me wrong, I love the weirdness of NYC and (especially in my neighborhood) people are actually quite courteous, but there’s just a different brand of “nice” in Oklahoma.
10. My people. You know who you are. Whether it's PLBD, Plastics, Spice-Up-Your-Life, or various other biffels, I'm so excited to see you. (And I'm totally stopping by PSS and Student Life, because I just can't stay away.)
    

That's all I've got for now, people. You should be so proud, too, a post a day for the past few days. Even I'm impressed.

CQDBTIOE

Last night I went to the first preview for the new musical 13, with music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown, of whom we all know I am a huge fan. The general excitement of being at the first Broadway performance of a show aside, I was particularly excited about seeing this, pretty much just because of the JRB connection. And it definitely did not disappoint. (Disclaimer: I'm no theater critic - I pretty much like everything I go see, so don't take my word as any legitimate review. I'm easy to please, as long as they sing well and make me laugh or cry.)

The kids were amazing singers - I was especially impressed with the girl who played Lucy, whose parents I happened to be sitting next to. While some of the actors sounded like they were 13 (good for 13, but still young voices), hers was much more mature. Plus she was the sassy, bitchy character, the kind you love to hate. She was definitely a scene-stealer, in the best possible way. I also loved the group of boys who followed the tween-heartthrob Brett around. They sang a campy little song called "Bad, Bad News" and the audience, myself included, just ate it up.

The dancing was just a bit U-Sing for my taste, but then again, I'm always there for the voices more than the moves. I was amused by the "playing your leg as a guitar" move that seemed to be ubiquitous in U-Sing/Scandals last year. (And I have a feeling these songs will make their way into future shows as soon as the sheet music becomes available.)

I recommend that you check it out if you're in NYC. And if you're not, I recommend that you come visit me and we can go see it again once it officially opens and they've worked out all the little kinks. For now, here's a link to their music video from the website www.13themusical.com:



P.S. The title of this post is in reference to a line from the show that cracked me up. Patrice enters, telling Archie she came after she got his text, but is confused about what "CQDBTIOE" means. He, in exasperation, explains that it's obviously: "Come Quick, Danger Beckons, Time Is Our Enemy." LAWL.

"It's vacation; let's take a cab."

Sometimes it just feels like I’m playing grown-up. Okay, most of the time it does. And sometimes, believe it or not, I forget that I’m living in New York City.

Obviously, I’m constantly reminded of the fact that I’m here by the honking cabs, the busy streets, the towering skyscrapers. It’s not that I forget where I am, it’s just that I forget how unusual it is for a girl like me to be in a place like this. Sometimes things feel way too normal, far more mundane and everyday than they should. Of course, then something distinctly New York and utterly inimitable happens, and I’m swiftly snapped back into this surreality. (Yes, I just made up a word. Deal with it.)

This weekend was spent oscillating between those two ideas. I am pretty sure this isn’t the first time I’ve talked about oscillating. I oscillate a lot. It’s a fun word. Say it out loud a couple of times. Oscillate. Ooooscillate. Okay, now I’m just being silly and postponing the story-telling.

My friend, Megan, who can empathize with my feelings of “playing grown up”, came to visit and vacation in the City this past weekend before she begins the next scene in her grown-up play. Here’s what we did, in vivid detail (at least the interesting parts):

**Just a heads-up, this is going to be a long one. I’m talking Jordan C. blog post proportions.

Friday

Upon her arrival, Megan had the distinct pleasure of listening to me lead my exec meetings – oops, I meant manage my team Progress Review calls. (Seriously, the resemblance is uncanny, for you CACers out there.) She got a kick out of that, but we were both glad to be on to greater things shortly thereafter.

We had plans – and cheap tickets, thanks to our dear friend Robbie – to see Hairspray on Broadway. Between the three of us, any night spent as connoisseurs of the theatre (British spelling: we’re snobs) is exciting, but particularly that night, because an OU alumna whom Robbie and Megan know well was performing as Tracy (aka the lead role) this past week. She was phenomenal, and it was fantastic to get to see her live her dream. Though, I couldn’t stop giggling at the fact that she was playing tonsil hockey with Ashley Parker Angel. In fact, I’m still giggling.

After the show, Annie had put us on the list to come backstage, so we did just that. We breezed past all the fans rabid to fill their autograph books and were escorted and directed to stand and wait in the middle of the stage. Oh, no big deal, we’ll just chill here In. The. Center. Of. A. Broadway. Stage. Naturally, we got our cameras out. My favorite one is my current Facebook picture – it’s of me checking out my reflection (with a coif that could’ve used some Hairspray right about then, unfortunately), in the mirror that Amber Von Tussle (the bratty blonde) uses in the show. Oh, and one of the actors from Camp, a movie I am not in the least bit ashamed to love, was in the ensemble, and he was hanging out on the stage too. (That little tidbit was just for you, K.) As we exited through the stage door, I restrained myself from the temptation to sign the handbill of the little girls standing outside. They wouldn’t have known the difference.

And no, the fun didn’t end there. Not to let the Scandals alumni, musical-loving, divas inside of us go to waste, we headed to a piano bar called Don’t Tell Mama. I’m taking you there when you come visit. Srsly. The bartenders and waitresses all carry mics around and sing – in perfect harmony, without missing a beat, mind you – while they are serving your drinks. And these people are A) funny and B) talented. It was a massive sing-along. The cute little Canadian gay couple seated next to us was amazed that I knew the words to every song. What can I say? That’s my thing. I was only slightly disappointed that upon leaving we still hadn’t convinced the pianist to play Queen’s “Show Must Go On.” So, I did my own rendition of it on the cab ride home. I’m sure the driver loved it.

Saturday

Wow, I’m only up to Saturday? I told you it was a great weekend. We slept in, since we’re working women during the week with demanding hours/schedules. Right. Or since we were out ‘til 4 the night before. Whatev.

On the way to lunch at Cilantro (another place I’m taking you when you visit. Ask Brian W. about their margaritas and the Waldorf), we discovered a little “garage sale” minus the garages. Vendors were lining the block just one street south of my apartment, and there were goodies galore. I came home with two incredible vintage necklaces and a pair of big funky earrings. And we considered buying some old Gucci shoes. Too bad they were slightly destroyed.

After lunch, we started our massive shopping event. I promise I won’t bore you with the details of every purchase we made and instead just share some mildly interesting tidbits from the day. First stop: Bloomie’s. The biggest conclusions from this outing were that I hate Juicy Couture. For real. They do have some adorable things, like a scarf with a Scottie pattern, but then they ruin it by emblazoning “Queen of Stuff” down the side. Tickety-tack hot tranny mess, y’all. Also, Megan made the proclamation that she just absolutely doesn’t like Chanel No. 5, directly after which a salesman catches her attention with a perfume she adores. Turns out it’s the new Eau de something, and it’s the redesigned version of No. 5. Remind me, George Carlin, is that the correct definition of irony?

After a quick detour through Tiffany’s (duh), we went to Mecca. I mean, Bendel’s. The highlight of that excursion? Poppy King, creator/founder/president of the makeup line Lipstick Queen, was there, and she gave us beauty tips and picked out our perfect shades of lipstick. This woman is good. And she can read your personality just from the way you hold your mouth – though I’m a skeptic, since she told us about ourselves only after having interacted with us and seeing us interact with each other. It’s all context clues, anyway. But regardless of her pseudo-psychic abilities, she is darn good with lipstick. It’s also worth mentioning that I showed great restraint in the hair accessories section and did not purchase a single thing.

There was more shopping after that, but not too much to write home about. Except that I finally found my Longchamp bag in the right size/shade. I am so pleased to no longer have to carry my things to work in my old Phi Lamb tote. As much as I love my Lambs, I’m just a little too old for that. That night was remarkably chill. We went to the Press Box, where the OU Club hosts football watch parties. Of course it was a blowout, and all in all it just made me more excited to go to a game in Norman again. It did give me a chance to premier my new crimson hair scarf as well.

Sunday

Sunday, we had every intention of getting up and going to the Broadway on Broadway concert, but no such luck. Our bodies voted for sleeping in yet again. We ventured into Times Square, avoiding the masses of confetti and crowds of fans pouring out from the just-ending event, en route to the theater to see show #2 for the weekend, Spring Awakening. I’d already seen it once from the audience, but Megan hadn’t, and we had tickets to sit onstage.

It’s definitely a different experience onstage. I noticed little things I hadn’t picked up on before – like the fact that even though all the other characters wear boots fitting of the period, Mortiz wears Converse All-Stars dyed black. Or that the entire cast is legitimately crying (okay, doing a great job of acting) during “Left Behind”. Or that Hunter Parrish is a hottie. Wait, did I type that out loud? I promise, I’m not becoming a crazy fangirl.

Besides the show, the main event of our Sunday was a trip to Little Italy. It must have been street fair day in NYC or something, because we ran into the State Fair of Texas shrunk down and transplanted into Little Italy. They even had fried oreos and a ferris wheel. All I cared about was getting some fantastic home-made sangria, though, and of course they did not disappoint.

There’s the scoop on Sooners Take Manhattan. If you’ve made it this far, I’m proud. Oh, and I feel like a story like this should have a moral, so here’s ours: When you’re on vacation, take a cab. At least that was our mantra and rationale for eschewing the subway this weekend. Totally worth every penny. Now it’s back to the grind, getting ready for a big deadline at work. It was certainly nice to take a break and step back for the weekend, to just enjoy life in the City without worrying about responsibilities or my campaigns. And then, as of Tuesday, I’m officially in single digits on the countdown to Norman.

Maybe I’ll infuse the 405 with a little of the City Love I’m going to bring along.

(P.S. You can always tell when I start to get tired while writing a post, because my tone slides into something more factual and pointed, rather than the meandering, snarky way I talk and usually write. Maybe the pause I took to receive a phone call from a friend who was drunkenly biking across a certain college campus had something to do with it. Don't worry, LB, I won't name names.)

Reading 'Life of Pi' has me all existential...

Two in one day? I know, what is going on? I wanted to share a conversation:

Me: "Do you ever get that feeling where your heart is just aching for something but simultaneously you are really happy about life in general? So hard to describe. There's this crazy push/pull phenomenon. I'm content, but wishful. I'm challenged, but rewarded. I'm waiting, but not hesitating. I'm a conundrum. Ha!"

Biffel: "Hahaha. My Emily, you have described a feeling that C.S. Lewis asserts is only possible in the human race. I feel like anyone who has some existential awareness will long for more, regardless of how wonderful things may be going. In that vein, it's usually the higher evolved individuals who are engaging in worthwhile things that bring them happiness. The carnal side is pleased by the pleasing and the spirit side yearns for its home.

...life!"

I like conversations like this. Your thoughts?

Growing pains.

I'm writing this from a Starbucks on the Florida State University campus, where I'm camped out with my work laptop, a teeny tiny bottle of water, and mountains of files. It's an interesting and welcome change of pace from the streets of New York, that's for sure.

It's nice to be in the South - familiar restaurants on the side of the road, Southern accents (okay, not precisely like mine, since it is Florida versus Texas), and a different kind of sunshine.

It's nice to be riding around in a car. Taxis just don't count. It's not the same unless you're in the passenger seat with the windows up, the AC cranked, and fun music on the radio. I even had the familiar dinging from the car reminding me to buckle my seatbelt, which reminded me of things I hadn't even realized I missed.

It's nice to be on a college campus. FSU is no OU (nothing ever will be), but I love the energy of 40,000 undergrads carrying on their collegiate lives around me. I love the football talk, the stately brick buildings, the chalkings, dodging bicyclists, textbooks, Greek letters on everything, school logos on everything, posters advertising campus events, the whole thing.

It makes me think that it's about that time... (the following was stolen from somewhere, I don't remember where. But it applies)
"Time to get back to where people believe in dollar beers, college bands for friday night entertainment, tailgating, and following your team to Dallas. It's time to return to a place where you have to drive yourself from point A to point B, where the Huff is everyone's local gym, and a place where beer pong is a form of social interaction. Time to return to place in which you bought your friends, they like you for the letters on your shirt and style you have. Time to get back to the 6th best town in the USA."

That's just over 2 weeks away, my chance to go back. I can't wait. But there's plenty to tide me over until time. For example, this crazy week. I return back to NYC from Florida tomorrow (on a 7 a.m. flight, ugh), and continue to work my little tushy off. Though, Sarah and I have plans for much needed and deserved pedicures. Small victories, people. Then Wednesday, Christa and I take the short trip to Newark for a Celine Dion concert with the tickets we got for FREE. You are jealous, admit it. Then Thursday is one more long day of work, work, working away, which I will do for as long as it takes to ensure that I don't have to work this weekend. Because, Friday Meg gets here. And the whirlwind adventure begins. I'll detail you with the aftermath, but just know that it includes a lot of Broadway. As in, I'm going to 3 shows in a span of 5 days. Then the next week is our final push before our first application deadline. AND THEN, it's back to the homeland. I'm kind of obsessed with this right now, so it might be a theme for the next 17 days.

Boomer Sooner. (Oh, and just for today, Go 'Noles.)

We're after the same rainbow's end.

Two drifters, off to see the world,
There's such a lot of world to see.
-- Moon River

To me, the corner of 56th St. and Fifth Avenue is among the most splendid places on Earth. On the east side of the street, you have Tiffany & Co., the place that cures the mean reds and has been causing young ladies to dream of diamonds for ages. On the west side is Henri Bendel's, with its sparkling window displays and proud stature, where a girl can go to ready-to-wear heaven.

And somewhere in the middle is a little lamb inhaling the splendor of this big city and soaking in the abundant sunshine.

It's fitting that I love Tiffany's and Bendel's so much. They are the respective Meccas of two of my favorite literary heroines (if you use the term somewhat loosely): Holly Golightly and Blair Waldorf*. It is also fitting that Blair is just as obsessed with Breakfast at Tiffany's as I am. So today, in honor of the holiday and our fabulous lives in this fantastic city, and the premier of Season 2 of Gossip Girl (do not judge me), one of my best friends, Flavia, and I decided to go on a very Blair outing.

My love affair with Bendel's started the first time I set foot inside its sparkling walls, but it has been increased ten-fold today, when I discovered the hair accessories section. (Blair would be so proud.) I probably tried on 50** headbands. The best part of all, and the entire point of telling this particular tale, is that I inadvertently made a new best friend. I'm pretty sure the hair accessories salesgirl adores me. She even told Flavia, "I'm going to steal your friend from you!" It was utterly silly the way we kept saying the same thing at the same time - who knew someone else could love headbands the way I do?

Best quote of the day:
Lorna: "And you know who are really crazy about their headbands and things? Girls from Texas. They all just come in here and go for the funkiest, cutest things. Those Texas girls are serious about their hair."
Me: "Um, I'm from Texas originally."
Lorna: "You know, I really should have guessed that. That's perfect. For real though, the Texans and the Brazilians. For some reason, those girls just love their hair accessories."
Flavia and I share a glance and a giggle, because she is from Brazil.

We also explored the entire store while Flavia decided whether or not to buy a fabulous feathered headband for herself.*** I adored the fact that they were playing Girl Talk in the chocolate shop, and that they had a children's book about the life of Coco Chanel. Fan-friggin-tastic.

So now we've sauntered home to pile up in Flavia's I-just-died-and-went-to-Sex-and-the-City studio, where we'll watch Breakfast at Tiffany's until it's time for the Gossip Girl premier, while eating Pinkberry (yet another of my newly formed obsessions). Like I said, Blair would be proud. The forecast for abundant sunshine continues throughout the week, but I know today has to be one of the bright spots. And I'm still after the same rainbow's end as you, Miss Golightly. Maybe I'll sit and sing on my fire escape-cum-balcony**** later tonight, while I'm already on this little fantasy trip.

*Can I digress for one moment to mention that both of these characters are even more fabulous in print than their celluloid counterparts?
**Of course, I did NOT buy 50. I wish.
***She did!
****If you think that's a dirty turn of the phrase, go back to English class.

Pictures to come, promise!