My Very Own Rollercoaster. Aww you shouldn't have!

What a trip these last few weeks have been. Let’s just say “Cold Season” decided to give me a run for my money. While I did feel like death for the better half of them, their have been some adventures mingled in to my days since mid-February.
Last I wrote I was about to go see a play at Juilliard called “The Greeks: The Gods.” While the title makes it does sound like it may be quite epic, I assure you it WAS. It was over 3 hours of some ain’t-kidding-around theatre. Ok maybe there was some kidding around. All in all it was really a remarkable production. It included all the 4th year Juilliard acting BFA students in their veritable final project. There was some great acting and they all played, had fun, and clearly poured their hearts out on the stage (not literally, ahaha Greek joke for ya). I was a bit speechless when I left but I guess they don’t call it Juilliard for nothing. PS. That was Friday, the 13th, an otherwise uneventful day in the life of little old logical me.
Which brings me to Singles Awareness Day, also known as Oregon’s Birthday (February 14)… A day my dear roommate prepared for by baking HUNDREDS of heart shaped sugar cookies. I awoke that morning to a thin film of flour/dough on every single surface of our kitchen and living room. For the love of others she baked for nearly 12 hours straight. Wow, I could hardly be up in arms at the state of the kitchen. You can still picture me with sleep in my eyes, my jaw on the floor, gawking at my powdery white kitchen and have a laugh if you’d like. Apparently she went to bed minutes before I woke up. (She was covered in flour as well).
That morning I went to a Women’s Brunch held by my friend Danise from church. She hosts a brunch about once a month and they are something I always look forward to. We get together, eat some good food, study the Bible and just fellowship. It’s a great way to get connected to friends at church and stay social in this busy city.
When I got home my other roommate was at work cleaning the kitchen up. She had some baking of her own to do. Red Velvet Cupcakes. They’re trying to kill me.
That night the roomies and I pooled our collective singleness and culinary skills and managed to cook up one amazing feast. Now I ain’t gonna be coy, I ate, a lot, and it was t-a-s-t-y. That’s how I roll on S.A.D. (Singles Awar..ok you got it).
That Sunday I sang on the Worship Team again at church. I’m so happy I get to be a part of that. We all get some creative input on the team and it’s so much fun.
That following Monday was Presidents’ Day, as you may recall. A day that will live in infamy. It all started with an innocent visit with my friend Ilyse to work on the DFN project. I walked by Bryant Park to get to our meeting spot and got to see the Fashion Week tents. Outside there were tons of wannabe celebs standing around apparently working as decoys to the paparazzi. It was quite comical. I found out later that they were actually hired to get in the way of the paparazzi when they tried to take pictures of actual celebs. Not a bad idea. Pathetic but brilliant.
Now I wish the aforementioned “infamy” of the day involved fashion week but this is me we’re talking about…
I worked with Ilyse for a couple hours then promptly came down with flu like symptoms. It had begun. I was LITERALLY in the heart of Manhattan with thousands of Presidents’ Day tourists and I felt horrible. I was so nauseous, I said a quick good-bye then I did that thing where you carefully choose your path so that you’re connecting the dots between garbage cans and shrubbery. NO WARNING, I just went from zero to death warmed up in seconds flat.
It took me an hour and a half to get home (I know, DEAR GOD). Should I even mention that it was like 5 degrees out and I had to stand and wait for a bus!? I learned not to take cabs when you’re feeling nauseous. ‘nuther story ‘nuther time.
When I finally got home I climbed right into bed fully street clothed and let the illness pass. I had a fever so I had a lot of clothing and blankets on that first night and I fell asleep at about 7pm. At approximately midnight I woke up feeling like I was on fire. The fever had apparently broken and I was then way too bundled up to be maintaining a normal body temperature (in four layers and a down comforter). I probably looked pretty comical waking up in the middle of the night from a dead sleep into the lightening speed throwing off of my covers and then flying to the window to get some air. I was a hot mess.
Nearly 48 hours later I was back in business but very tenderly. I still have no clue what the heck that was but I would never wish it on anyone.
Luckily, when the bulk of the crappy feeling passed, I had my audition for the children’s theatre. I did a monologue and read some sides from the play. Apparently they liked me because I got a callback! I was so excited I got on the wrong train to go home. No worries, I’m safe.
The callback was a week later and I’ll just jump out of chronological order here to give you the scoop. I thought the callback went very well. It was just reading more sides from the play. Only this time it was in front of all the other ladies called back for the same role. The artistic director told us he saw over 400 people and called the 9 ladies I was in the room with back for one role. That was a nice compliment.
Well, I didn’t get cast but I got close. Aw well. One day someone will take a chance on me.
On to better news: I got a temp job! My friend Michelle is taking leave from her job for the next 7 weeks and thought of me to help out in her absence. (How nice was that?) It is the definition of an office manager job and is on the Upper East Side. It will be such a blessing to have! With the state of the job market I am astonished that I get to have some work. It’s pretty unbelievable and is absolutely answered prayer.
I have been going in for training over the past week and a half and I can tell that it will most definitely be a better work environment than I am used to. It is still a NYC office with a pretty heavy workload but the “boss man” is a nice guy, truly. Unbelievable, right? Haha. I actually start that gig tomorrow (3/9). Wish me luck!
I have to end there for tonight. I have to go get ready for work!

To be continued…soon…I hope…