Has anyone noticed that my posts out here are much later in the day than when I was in California? There IS a reason for this. Here, in NYC, everyone comes into work later. It is common to go over to someone’s office at 11 to find that she hasn’t come in yet. Because of this strange phenomenon of late arrivals, later departures are the norm. I started out the job by coming in at 9:30 and leaving at 5:30. I quickly learned that, even though I’d been at work a full hour and a half longer than everyone else, leaving at 5:30 was not cool. Most people left at 7. SEVEN OH FREAKING CLOCK! I hate this. Granted, I’m not rushing home to meet anyone, so it’s not really all that much of a problem. It just makes my awake time at home shorter and more precious. I love my awake-at-home time.

More freezing temperatures here in the East. I’m done really complaining about it, because it seems that the more I complain, the more bad weather comes. I will say, though, that there is nothing worse than sleet. It’s just ick. Today on my lunch break I took a quick jaunt up to 67th street so I could place an order at Pottery Barn. As I walked back to the office, I delighted in one of my favorite cold-weather activities: Kid Watching. I love watching little kids when they’re all dressed for the cold weather! They are so cute. I saw so many today, I guess I was out during prime child-walking hours. It cracks me up to see these tiny people wearing so much gear that they can’t even put their arms down! Most of the kids seem totally oblivious to the cold and are running around as if it were 80 degrees outside. But then, every once and a while, you’ll see a kid in a stroller with the most miserable expression and it just breaks your heart. I always want to bend down and say, “it’s okay, I’m cold, too.” It’s like when you see small dogs shivering in the cold. It just ain’t right!

I hate the Tuesday after a long weekend. It is so hard to get back into the swing of things, and your internal clock is totally thrown for a loop. Is it Monday? Is it Thursday? I’m all out of whack. I have been craving a grilled cheese sandwich like it’s my only chance for survival. That’s weird! I don’t normally crave grilled cheese. I blame the three day weekend. The other weird thing is that no one in my office seems to know where I can get said grilled cheese sandwich. Doesn’t that seem a little odd to you? This is freaking New York City, how does no one know where I can get a heart attack sandwich? Unacceptable.

I’m so glad American Idol is back! My TV nights are so happily full. I love being able to come back to my apartment knowing that I have something to do. When I don’t have something to do, I usually go buy something and construct it. Take, for example, this shelf thing. I needed it, of course. But I went and got it during my lunch break last week and had it delivered later that day. I didn’t need it right away, per say, but I needed something to do that night! I was pleased with my handiwork. Note on the top of the shelf is my Sock Monkey, the Dread Pirate Mills. He has a peg leg, and he’s not afraid to use it. He keeps everything in the kitchen in line. Don’t mess!!!