My first week.

My first week in New York, the first of the next 50. If this week is anything to go by - I'm in for a pretty sweet year.


Fuck YEAH.

My flight over was good - the movies were good and quantas did pretty good food etc. But I was seated in between two rather large men who really loved talking to each other and slept like logs as soon as the lights dimmed. Not only this but they started playing fart tenis in there sleep - one would fart (which is understandable for a 14 hour flight) but then the other would fart and the game would continue. I was an unimpressed unwilling umpire. Fat men 1, Nick 0.

After touching down and getting settled, my cousins girlfriend Claire took me out in the Grenich Village (where I have been staying for the last week w my cousin) to a little old speakeasy for dinner. We entered the ordinary way and then exited through 'the cops are here' emergency exit. The area is so cool (it's where sex and the city is filmed)and the thing that suprises me is that parts of Manhattan (Grenich village/west village/soho etc) are really petite and residential - not the bussling crazy boom boom town NYC is hyped up to be.



This is Chris and Clairs apartment on the very chic Cornelia st.

It's really cute and cultured with little stores, bakeries and beautiful people everywhere. Chris (my cous) has a little apartment in Grenich village just next to the bulding where Bob dillan lived for 20 years. Random famous things are everywhere, { thats where Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow, Sarah Jessica Parker lives - thats where Mike Myers eats breakfast each sunday - thats whats-hernames store etc etc etc}. It's bizarr.


Bob Dylan lived here for 20 years. Now it's a one of many many many sex shops.



The lovely Claire.



snow



basketball court.



Nick again.



Burberry picnic





Me with Cousin Chris outside the flat this morning.

The snow is pretty - but gets kinda gross when it starts to clear.
I've had a great time strolling around on my first few days seeing the subway and a few of the tourist sights. Went a bit crazy and H&M - ate one too many bagel's - and tried talking to as many NYorkers as possible. The accents are halarious. I went to the supermarket to get some museli, and they were so confused when I asked were the health food section - three of the supermarket gimps took me to the sunscreen section.

So my first week at the job has been great - I'm working on the top floor of of a three story house in Queens. It's a really small studio with three other emploees and the two owners ( a married couple) All the people at work are really nice and I've learned lots so far. It's all newly renovated and there are two cats in the office.



Marc and Ellen in the office. Thats a giant cup - not trippy perspective.

Having a job has really changed my experience when I compare it to going to Europe, theres more of a purpose to what I'm doing and I'm not in a rush to see the city. Theres time to chill out and my free time is so much sweeter. The studio does some great work and it feels like a good fit. They make fun of my accent and I make fun of theres, answering the phone has been a bit of a challege. All new yorkers have such bizarr names and they dont really understand me. I find myself doing my american accent all the time - esp if I need dirrections or a train ticket or something.


Nick, Sheri(boss), Marc(other boss), Ellen, Katie, Emil.


Lou Lou - the insane office cat. Adicted to cat nip.


The office. No - not the house - the office.

I have been apartment hunting since I got here - and on my budget, I have seen some really really disgusting rooms - for outragous prices. And the whole process has - to be honest - completely exsausting. But after many a late night viewings and trecks on the subway - I found my self a room in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. (union ave) Now it's not cheap cheap - but it's cheap. Sure - theres no window - and it's the size of a shoe box - and I have to leave the apartment to get to the shower which is down the hall - but it was available and I could move in straight away. And I'm living with two other guys - one of whom is a German guy called Donut. Yes - he's called Donut. Probably why I took the room. The building is inbetween two churches and accross from a police station so it's safe and near some cool bars and cafes etc.


Snow?

Another freaky thing that happend this week was that only a few blocks away from where I'm staying - a guy shot a waiter and then killed two cops before being gunned down in a five minute shoot out on the street. 4 people dead. Chris, Claire and I were out at dinner - but luckily had moved downstairs to the jazz bar. Very scary. He also had a huge amount of amunition and a semi-automatic weapon in his bag. Lucky - would've totally blown if I was shot. Blown.

If you've read this far - I commend you - my blabber is hard to disifer and my spelling/grammer, worse.

New Yorkers all have dogs. They love dogs. Despite the tiny places that they all live in - alot of them have MASSIVE great danes. Many of the tiny parks around downtown have fenced off sections for the dogs to play in. I've seen a few dogs around that wear little outfits - which is nothing new I know, but some of them have little matching sneakers.


Dog walker - walks dogs.

I'm not missing home yet - but I'm sure I will soon. I'm on the computer all day at work so send me an email (nick@mslk.com) If any one knows where my favourite leather vest is let me know - and also...

Any photoa from my good bye party - send em to nick.lemess@gmail.com. Please please.

Big Love

oy vey

Nick