New stuff!

I have been dreadfully behind on posts, I know, but I've been holding down a full-time job at Giant Multinational Corporation, rehearsing for an off-off-Broadway musical that opens this weekend, exercising, auditioning, writing a book, learning poker, dating and trying to keep in touch with friends all at the same time. That's not even counting personal projects. So it's been a little crazy. There's good news though. I finally finished my legal project, which always makes me happy because it sucks, I've been shopping too much but found amazing deals, I have my very first starring role & I have a new boyfriend! He's terrific. I honestly thought I couldn't upgrade from Sexy Englishman but what do you know, miracles happen. Our first date was election day - go Obama! - & 3 days later we made it official. It's been a few days over a month now. I'm scared, of course, but I'm trying very hard to open up & trust that he's for real. It helps that I've met his family & if we don't see each other every day he misses me (& tells me so, even more importantly).

I'm pretty nervous about my show. It is kind of my responsibility for it to go well, since my character is the only one with a story arc and I am central to almost all the scenes. I keep freaking out, as I usually do, but also tell myself to calm down & be effective. Speaking of being effective, I've stopped drinking for a while to lose weight (that's going pretty well) & I finally stopped shopping. I just need to find time to sleep more. Which I should probably go do right now. Wish me luck, everybody!

busy busy bee

A ton of stuff has happened since December. I quit my hostess job at Swanky Uptown Restaurant after a month of stress; I moved about 80 blocks south; I started sessioning at a new dungeon; & I am now into snowboarding. SUR sucked. I liked the food & most of the other employees but the managers were terrible. I stuck it out through xmas, since I said I'd work, so they took advantage & had me closing xmas eve, xmas day & the day after. Plus they made it so difficult to get my hard-earned money I almost wanted to give up & not bother anymore. At my new dungeon, on the other hand, everyone is sweet & doesn't give me any problems. No one yells or orders me around & the head mistress has shown me some new stuff. I never used a hoist or electrical equipment before & now I know how to. Plus we changed my name to a much better one.

My new apartment is great, it's like a little home. I had a housewarming party a month ago & it's pretty much all set up. Things are going well with Sexy Englishman, although he's still scared of the moving-in-together conversation, & we just celebrated our first anniversary together. It was my birthday a week before that, for which he took me to River Cafe (omigod so good) & threw me a party at Pacha (lots of fun & girl kisses). We're leaving for Vegas tonight - I'm sitting in my cozy new home watching the lovely white snow fall outside, & right now I am very happy. Have a great weekend everybody! (& I promise I will catch up on posting). :)

yay for boots!

Finally it is cold enough to wear boots again. I missed my beautiful black leather. Plus, since it's raining, it is a practical decision as well. Now, what to wear on top...

In other news, I finished the project at Giant Multinational Corporation so I no longer need to commute to yucky Jersey every day for work. It was 1.5 hours each way! Which comprised 3 trains & about 30 minutes of walking. Planning to cocktail &/or bartend, preferably the latter, though I need to learn how. Can you believe I could get paid more as a cocktail waitress than a lawyer?!?! I've been enjoying sleeping & going to the gym this week.

& most exciting of all, I cooked dinner for Sexy Englishman last night! I can follow a recipe fairly well but I pretty much use my kitchen to store books, boil ramen, or throw 10 things in a pot & call it soup. We go out to dinner 5 or 6 nights a week so it's not like I need to ever put on an apron. I wanted to show him how much I love & appreciate what a wonderful boyfriend he is, & was hankering for some shrimp fra diavolo, so I decided to make it & surprise him. It turned into shrimp & scallops fra diavolo with the help of about 7 internet recipes put together. I bought supplies at Citarella - if you live near one, it is so awesome for getting fresh everything - & went over to his place & plunged in. I have never made pasta that wasn't just boiled noodles with sauce on top so this was new to me. I had to peel & de-vein the shrimp myself, sauté them & the scallops while boiling the pasta, & then toss them all together. Fortunately I didn't try to make the sauce myself (thank you Rao's). SE was surprised & happy when he came home - he said it was very yummy. Next time I will boil the pasta & sauté everything less though. I underestimated how quickly seafood cooks. But overall, yay for my first proper attempt at cooking!

I heart Roald Dahl

When I was little (& even now) Roald Dahl was one of my favorite authors. In honor of his birthday on September 13, Google made a special logo, how cute is that? If you haven't had the pleasure of acquaintance with his books you should go read them now. They're still awesome to me, 20 years later.

Will Shortz is my new bff

I am extremely proud of myself. I finished today's Friday NY Times crossword! Plus I finished last week's Friday as well! Before, I could only do Fridays very rarely but it looks like I am improving. (Newspaper puzzles increase in difficulty from Monday to Saturday, with Sunday being bigger but about a Thursday difficulty.) All those crosswords while we were on vacation really paid off. Last week I was so clever I didn't even look anything up. I had to this week - didn't know a hockey player named Tverdovsky, a wrestler named Flair, or any songs from the '60s - but generally I would just stare at a word & think, or run the alphabet in my head, & I made some inspired guesses. Those clues are hard. I won't give away the answers if anyone is working on it, but what do you think the 8-letter answer is for 16-across, "Exchange for something you really want?" The 10-down "Skin pics?" answer I still don't understand. The worst part about late-week crosswords is trying to figure out what exactly they're driving at. Usually it could be several different things, & there aren't enough words in the clue to let you know which one until you've got some letters. I like how much crosswords exercise my brain though - which reminds me, I need to go pick up some physics textbooks. :)

Africa rocks!

So far, we've been on safari & seen a ridiculous number of animals in Kruger National Park (lions, leopards & bears, oh my!), done helicopter & walking tours of Victoria Falls, bungee-jumped off the bridge there, flown South African Airways 5 times in one week & are currently at the Extreme Hotel in Cape Town. It's affiliated with the Extreme Sports channel & is definitely for young, hip, adrenaline junkies like us. Africa is amazing. Will blog about it much more fully later - oddly enough, we've met hardly any Americans here. The white people are mainly Australian or African. A bit odd. Possibly going shark diving tomorrow, wish me luck in not getting chomped!

sorry!

I have been super busy working & having a real relationship... sorry I've completely neglected the blog. I actually have a runway show later, but I wanted to update & say hi to everyone. Things are a bit topsy-turvy & it's kind of a weird new world. Sexy Englishman & I are officially in love; I've been thinking seriously about my life; & most of the time things seem to be looking up. I have to go get ready, so I'll try to post later this weekend.

the Mistress has a new man

Wow. I mentioned that Sexy Englishman asked me out for Thursday, right? Well, we did go out last night, but that was our 4th date. It's been a whirlwind courtship... we spent Sunday night together, as I mentioned in the last post. We had dinner at this fantastic lower east side Italian place ápizz Monday, & afterwards I came up for "just a minute" which turned into another sleepover, although this time with more sleep. Oh I wanted him so much. However, I managed to keep my panties on - although I lost all my other clothes. Still no sex & no pressure from him. I've been pretty sick all week with a frightening cough, which hasn't stopped us for a minute. I can't breathe the cold air outside so Wednesday, Valentine's Day, he came over with champagne, strawberries & a rose. (Oddly enough, my apartment is filled with flowers at the moment. I got a beautiful white orchid from work last Thursday, irises from the ex for my birthday, & roses from Tech Exec for v day. Because a made-up commercial holiday is so much more important than my birthday. Jackass.) SE is such a sweetheart. We got takeout & snuggled on the sofa semi-watching his favorite movie Heat, which he was astounded I had. I'm an action &/or hot babes kind of movie girl, what can I say? He took care of dizzy, feverish lil' me & I think he may actually have kissed my fever away.

Yesterday we had conveyor belt sushi at a Japanese place by his apartment, which was absolutely fascinating. I did not know there was such a thing, it made eating really fun. I mean SE & I were smooching the whole time, so it was already fun, but the moving food was cool. He's going to Puerto Rico this weekend with friends & I was supposed to help him pack but we couldn't stop fooling around. He begged me to take my thong off & I couldn't resist any more so I told him I would if he'd give me boxers to wear. Later, when we "went to bed", the boxers ended up on the floor & we finally did it. & I actually got to finish, which almost never happens & was really mind-blowing. Damn, I knew taking my panties off was dangerous. :) But I'm happy, he's my boyfriend now, & I'll break up with everyone when I get back.

Leaving for South America tomorrow morning - my aunt is going through some personal stuff & my mother deputized me to go be a comfort & help since she can't leave the kids. I'll be away for 2 weeks, not looking forward to it so much but I can work on my Spanish & Chinese (that's all auntie speaks) & catch up on practicing. Please let there be an internet cafe by her house, I don't know what I'll do if I'm cut off from NYC civilization for the whole time. SE & I promised we will behave while we're apart. He's going to France for a week with buddies right before I get back, so it'll be 3 whole weeks. I wanted to wait to have sex until then but I suppose I gave us something to look forward to. This is so weird, I have a boyfriend again. I hope it turns out well.

birthday weekend extravaganza draws to a close

Yes, I'm a total princess & celebrated my birthday all weekend. My friends pulled through for me & made it awesome. I could have relaxed, it would have turned out great anyway - I have to learn how to be calm & let things work themselves out a lot more. Friday was very upsetting because Tech Exec disappeared again. He upset me already Wednesday at the client dinner, & we were supposed to have plans Saturday which I wanted to confirm except he didn't respond to me all day Friday. I don't know why I was surprised he started acting a fool again. So I was trying very hard & failing not to be depressed, when my friends Fledgling Designer & Cute Gay Guy were like come on let's have dinner! They took me to an adorable & yummy izakaya (Japanese tapas) called Kasadela in the east village & were just so sweet & cheerful that I perked right up & finally started having fun. We bounced around from China 1 to Lotus to Remix afterhours, & then hung out at CGG's house as usual.

Saturday, Nice Lawyer took me to Macelleria, where we shared the porterhouse & people looked at me strangely for wearing a little black dress & my new Proenza Schouler boots. It was very cold but I wanted to dress up. We had a drink at the Gansevoort while waiting for my friends to figure out where they wanted to go, then joined them at Double Happiness for more drinking. We popped downtown to some house party that turned out to be at my ex-boyfriend's building - freaky, we were on the floor below his! - & after frantically digging for our coats for about 45 minutes, we finally arrived at Penthouse with Fledgling Designer & another friend of ours. It is my favorite strip club & that night was absolutely amazing. Most of the time, even though that's the best club in Manhattan, I would say 50% of the girls are smokin' hot. Saturday, it was 80%. Like knock me over with a feather, drop-dead gorgeous. I got lots of lapdances & I was so excited, it's a good thing Nice Lawyer isn't pushy or I might actually have slept with him. He isn't much for staying out late & opted to go home when the rest of us decided on Korean barbecue after Penthouse said, "Gentlemen, put your dicks & wallets back in your pockets, it's closing time!" No they didn't but it sounds funnier that way. My friends laughed when I kissed NL good night & sent him on his way & said I was truly sadistic - it was his choice though, he could have asked me to come home or stayed out. & I was so hot I probably would have gone with him. Instead we ate like little piggies & that was good too.

Sunday I went to the gym, saw Prince Charming there, got several happy birthday phone calls & texts from unexpected people, & picked a nice outfit for dinner (Chanel skirt + see-through glittery black top). It ended up being 10 of us at Porcão, my favorite Brazilian steakhouse. Yes, I had meat all weekend & I like it that way. Dinner was so much fun!! Everyone got along famously, everyone was sweet to me, & I think someone told them to make my strawberry caipiroskas especially strong. So yummy. Afterwards we went over to Young Entrepreneur's loft (one of the hot guys from a prior post) since he's a few blocks away & drank some more. We were going to try for Milk & Honey but got distracted. & then, the high point of my whole weekend, his flatmate Sexy Englishman came home. We had bonded over books at their super bowl party the weekend before but their other friend was hitting on me & I didn't know SE liked me so I didn't really think about it. He emailed me the next day though, & asked me out a few days later for Thursday this week. On Sunday we started talking & realized we were really into each other. I decided to stay a bit longer & not share a cab home with the erstwhile favored friend. We were talking in SE's room - at one point he just leaned in & kissed me, & after extensive making out I ended up staying the whole night. We didn't do it although we fooled around all night. Literally. We fell asleep from exhaustion about 45 minutes before he had to get up for work.

Which is why I'm posting at such an ungodly early-for-me hour... I fell asleep again after he left, & just got home now. I can't remember ever being this into a guy (except maybe Prince Charming, but he's so flaky I've learned not to pay attention to those feelings). He gets me sooo excited & we have so much in common & I'm thinking about him right now with a smile on my face. We just find each other completely fascinating & yummy & keep discovering new adorable little quirks. I told him my current celibacy rule - no sex before we're in a relationship - & not only did he not pressure me about it the way Tech Exec did, he was totally sweet & understood without me having to explain any of the bad things that have made me that scared. I think this might be my new boyfriend. Wish me luck!

yo shorties, it's my birthday!

Yay, it's my birthday!! I was actually really depressed all week because I'm freaked out about getting older, the birthday weekend extravaganza planning was a huge headache, & a couple other bad things happened, but my close friends were such sweethearts last night that I am actually happy about my big day finally. They are throwing me a little "surprise" party tonight & I have to go get dressed for dinner with Nice Lawyer before that so I will tell you guys all about the festivities later!!

Could he be any sweeter?

Oh my god - I just saw Tech Exec. All day we were trying to schedule when we could meet up & I could tell the poor guy was frazzled & exhausted, but he insisted, "I don't know where or when but I am definitely seeing you tonight." We've talked every day but I last saw him Thursday, & I'll be in Aruba for ten days with my family. We settle on him coming uptown to hang out - his considerate idea. I need to pack before the shuttle picks me up at 5:30 so staying in my area is awesome but I live about 70 blocks up from him, so I am pleasantly surprised at his willingness to make the trek.

My dear sweet man arrives bearing a dozen red roses. Not crappy corner deli roses, either - these are luscious, blood-red beauties. I'm almost in shock, I can't believe how sweet he is. "You didn't have to!" I exclaim, to which he replies that of course he wants to make up for not being around the last few days. He even insists on putting them in a vase for me. The gesture is even more darling & extravagant since we both know I'm leaving in a few hours. Although we've discussed just staying in, he immediately says we can go out to dinner if I want, & he really seems to mean it even though he's obviously tired. Of course I demur, & after he shows how much he missed me, we order up $120 worth of sushi from the fantastic little place down the block. I think it was all the à la carte sushi & sashimi that made it that much. We have fun cuddling on the couch, watching South Park & devouring yummy food. When I come back from taking out our trash despite his protests, he is apparently so bereft by my two minute absence that we end up in bed again. (This is twice in 1.5 hours.)

Then he starts putting on his suit to go home since he needs to get up early. I'm absolutely floored. I thought he was staying over, I had no idea he made the whole journey just to see me for two hours. I can't believe how thoughtful he is. The flowers, the way he keeps asking which hotel I'm staying in so he can call me, the snuggling... I think I'm starting to fall for him. & the way he's acting is exactly how I imagine someone who loved me would act. I'm so used to neglect, I guess I gave up hope on guys behaving properly. Wow. Oh & when he left, he said "I love you." It wasn't the super serious kind but I could tell he meant more than the "Love you" he started saying recently. This time I said it back. :)

sexyback comic

Brooklyn Hottie forwarded this to me, knowing my love of Sexyback:








It still cracks me up after telling about 20 people about it. :) Hopefully I'll have internet while I'm on vacation in the Caribbean - I have a lot of posting to catch up on.

Asurion convert

I have insurance on my Treo 600, since it was an expensive phone, & it kinda doesn't work so well anymore so I called Asurion last week. They sent a replacement phone that buzzes during all sounds. Within 1 week I can replace a replacement, so I called yesterday to do that. The guy asked if I'd charged my phone for 12 hours. No, of course I hadn't, you can't do that with Treos or it will fuck up the battery. When I got the new one it was already charged so I left it alone. He argued with me politely that I had to follow the activation instructions. I argued less politely that I didn't want to break the battery & the problem was the sound, possibly something loose internally, not battery life. He told me to charge it up for 12 hours & then call back. It made me really mad but I said fine. Today I called back after following orders, happened to get the same guy, & we reset it, which didn't fix anything. So he said he was very sorry I was having difficulties & could he make up for the annoyance with a free upgrade to a Treo 650 or 700? I was floored. Asurion has been nice the last 4 times I had to get my phone replaced but this was above & beyond. I did some research online & called back to get a 700p. I couldn't believe it! Now that is real customer service. I'm so happy, I can't wait until I get the new phone tomorrow.

you know you're fabulous when...

hot gay guys come up to you at a super crowded club & tell you how fucking awesome you are. That was Sunday night at Hiro - totally made my week.

isn't it romantic

I was in the subway the other day & saw this sign:

It says, "Melissa, met you here Wednesday, 9am. Lost your number. Email me at" [redacted]. How adorable is that? I wish more guys were romantic like this.

busy bee

Today I had a great workout with my trainer & then Hot Movie Star texted me. I haven't talked to him in over a year, so this was quite a bolt from the blue. I'll let you know how it goes if we ever actually go out again. :) Meanwhile, I have a voice lesson to practice for tomorrow, & am meeting up with Record Exec later. It's funny, I'm busier now than when I was working about 12 hours a day. Tomorrow I have a hair appointment, dance class, swimming, voice lesson, & short film with Future Director before meeting Handsome Young Guy & the Girlfriend (& maybe her boyfriend) for a movie & drinks. Speaking of busy bees, the Girlfriend went back to school & is working too so I barely ever see her anymore. But she's finally learning what she really wants to do so I'm happy for her.

tribute to Jet Li

I wanted to write about how much I love martial arts in general & Jet Li in particular, but the Times did it for me here. What I personally love about his fighting is that he's so efficient & powerful. He doesn't waste time or energy. He quickly cuts through his enemies with a grace that ballerinas would envy. I can't wait to see Fearless. Of course I wish he'd keep making movies, but I admire so much that he's retiring on the top of his game.

dancing mood

I feel totally in tune with my body & all rhythm today... even in exercise class when we were doing thigh work & I thought I was about to collapse, I couldn't help shaking it a little to "Sexyback." Now I really want to go dancing. I must be in a good mood! :)

another good date...

with Handsome Young Guy. I met some of his friends & he seems to really like me... I think he might be a keeper. Stay tuned for more developments in Celibate Dating Land!

Sharapova sighting!!!

I forgot to mention that we were in the Meatpacking District & saw Maria Sharapova last night in her SUV! I yelled "Congratulations!" as we walked by, then one of the girls tried to go talk to her but her security wouldn't allow it. That game was awesome - she seemed to be struggling a little at first, but then she whipped Justine Henin-Hardenne's cute little Belgian ass. H-H looked like she was ready to cry when she lost... her husband looked really mad too. Kind of unsportsmanlike, I thought. Anyway I was so happy Sharapova won I almost cried at the end. Maybe I identify with a young one winning. Go Maria!