9/22/09- I have plans :)

Ok, I didn't know I had plans when I woke up, so that comes later in the story. What I knew when I woke up was that I was heading to Times Square to drop off all the applications Ini and I picked up on Friday. I ran around (and had to call him for directions twice) to several restaurants. When I dropped off the application at Bubba Gumps they asked me to stay for an interview! Sweet! Of course I stayed. I think it went well, they said it was a three-part process, so now comes the waiting... I stink at waiting, but I will keep working on finding a job while waiting to hear from them.
When I finished downtown I headed to 125th to waste some time til Ini got back to Queens. I almost never buy anything, but today I picked up a new pair of black flats. I had ruined the ones I brought with me wandering in Central Park looking for Ini's phone on Sunday night. He thought he had left it on the bench, we went back to look for it. It was in his bag the whole time, but running like a couple of crazies in the park searching for a not-really-lost iphone was exciting none the less.
After picking up my hecka cute new flats (from Payless... darn convenient national chains), I was heading home when I got a text. Ok, follow me on this rabbit trail. Before I left MI, a gal from my church, Theresa G. had told me she had a niece who lived in Manhattan and Theresa was nice enough to connect me with her niece via facebook. Jacqueline, the niece and I had messaged a few times but had not yet gotten together. Well… guess who was texting me? Jacqueline!!! She invited me to a friend’s birthday party that night downtown on 34th St and 5th Avenue at a real new York brewery! I, of course, said yes. I HAVE PLANS!
So, now I am heading to my first real New York outing. Have I mentioned I am from Michigan? I don’t know what one wears to a birthday party at a New York brewery. After a few country-bumpkin texts to Jacqueline, I deduced there was no need to be super dressy, but cuteness was expected. Oy! I went in a denim skirt and cardigan, looking cutesy but far from city chic. I need to work on this once I get employed, I don’t want to be a bumpkin my entire life!
Anyways, once the clothes were sorted and I had directions to where I needed to go I was off! I took the subway (alone) downtown (at night) and then walked over to 5th Ave. What Jacqueline had failed to mention was that this brewery was ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING!!!!!! How wicked sweet is that?? After meeting up with Jacqueline, we headed inside with Brett, a stranger who had asked us for directions and who she invited along to the party. We finally found her friends and the rest was just fun. I talked to a couple visiting from England about US tipping customs (they were at the bar, not with our group), I met several new people and even got 2 business cards (people really give you their cards here). It was so much fun. Just a chill night of hanging out and socializing with new folks, I actually forgot that I was a bumpkin and felt like one of the group… awesome :)
Below is a picture of us at the brewery that night…Jacqueline, Me, Anthony (the birthday boy) Brendan, and ummm... I forget (oops!)