Travel Bound...

Photo taken by me, outside Miami International Airport

Today I awoke to a storm outside. I opened my eyes and the blinds to see rain pouring down, palm fronds flailing in gusts of wind, and the sound of thunder rattling my windows. Much to my delight, as it was Sunday and the sunshine was not beckoning me to play, I relished the opportunity to sink back into a deep sleep.

Lazily waking up around 11:30, I finally got out of bed. With the storm still in full force, the mood for my Sunday was set. Plans of brunch and Mercedes-Benz Swim Week pool parties this afternoon soon gave way to lounging around in my pajamas trolling the internet and making plans to go to the movies with my mom. Once my computer booted up, I immediately knew I wanted to listen to The xx as the mood set by the storm was begging the serenade of their British voices. After which I realized tickets to their show in New York for October went on sale on Friday at noon while I was at work. So I hopped on the site, browsed available tickets, and knew I just had to see these guys live. I can listen to their album xx on repeat over and over, and have been since 2009. I was getting a bit of a rush going through with buying 2 tickets, not knowing who will be joining me but excited at the prospect of this future adventure with a friend. I clicked Purchase and waited for the spinning dial to tell me my order was complete. A big smile came across my face. I'll get around to buying the plane ticket when I get the chance, but this was for sure. I'm going to experience them live. And that's all I needed to know.

After, I'm chatting with a friend from Chicago online. Telling him how I've yet to visit the city and it's definitely on my list (in the summer), but I wasn't too sure it would happen this year. "Well, you've still got time to make Lollapalooza", he mentions. Hmm... The wheels start spinning instantly and I'm plotting. I quickly pull up Spirit Airline's website and check the airfares. Thinking the prices would be enough to dissuade me, I am surprised it's quite the contrary. I find a round trip ticket that weekend for $200 (though I know what comes with a Spirit flight as it is pretty dingy and no frills, but it's one of the only ways my post-grad budget can afford to travel and my experiences are usually pretty decent). We keep chatting back and forth as I'm debating another purchase and the minor details about how to get in since the festival is sold out, and he just says to me "book the flight". I oscillate for a bit longer as I continue getting ready for my matinee with mom, brushing my teeth and throwing on clothes. I decide I really want to do this. I plug in all my information on the site and finally come down to the Book Reservation button, getting another surge of adrenaline rushing through me as I point my cursor over it and tap the mouse. I did it! I'm going to Chicago! For the first time! To Lollapalooza! With my friends! Quite a few people from Miami are going up for it, and I start texting people right away with my exciting news. I've never been to a festival except for Ultra, or gone on a trip where I'll be with a bunch of friends all converging in one place, being brought together by music. I'm thrilled to say the least and can't wait to embark on this adventure! Posts will follow shortly after the trip abundant with stories.

Summer in the City, pt. 2

My second trip to NYC this summer was at the end of July for a long weekend (that was in fact quite short). It was a quickie but a goodie. I mainly went to see my friend of 4 years now, Cassie, before she left in August to Europe for the rest of the year. I spent the first day and a half strolling around Williamsburg, Brooklyn and my beloved West Village. I then went to Long Island with Cassie and spent my last day there enjoying its quaint, suburbia appeal. I always value my trips out to see her, even if it is just for a day or two. It was nice not really having an agenda and getting to see a few friends, walk around aimlessly through the parks and streets and do whatever we felt like doing.

View of the city from Williamsburg

My new favorite: Peach Lambic

Washington Square Park

Piano Man

Sand Man

Jazz Men

Fancy dinner at Union Square Cafe

My dear friend, Cassie. Her self-portrait.

Main Street, Babylon, Long Island

Babylon Station

Pizzaaaaaa!

when one door closes, another opens

This past week marked the end of one chapter in my life, and the beginning of another. While it was weird and even a bit sad to leave my emptied Brooklyn apartment and all the memories, and roommates that went with it, I'm excited to see what Miami has in store for me. So below are some photos taken during my last week of running around having fun in the big apple, and a letter I wrote on the subway one day. It was a nice release and helped me say goodbye to NYC.New York,
I love you. It's more than the average girl's infatuation with the magical and seductive appeal of your bright lights, signature skyline, and bustling streets. It's a kind of tough love that can only be experienced by those who've lived and endured the trials of a relationship with you. Visitors and tourists have their own ideal of you in their mind, which is what keeps them coming back for more. But to truly live in this magical, spell-binding city, which I've found most anyone and everyone claims to want to do, is to see her in another light. I've seen the good, the bad, the ugly, and the fashionable. The glamor, sex, drugs, and hipster indie rock. You take one from a naive, unprepared adolescent, chew them up, and spit them back out as a cynical, mature adult. But by working three other menial jobs to barely make ends meet, it brings to light what one's priorities are and how much of your soul you're willing to give to get it. The city, and its youth-ridden Brooklyn counterpart, is full of dream chasers. It's an exhausting, larger-than-life machine that works you to the bone. How you come out on the other end is what you take with you from that relationship. Like other prior relationships, you still carry emotional baggage, invaluable memories, cynicism, wisdom, and lessons learned from mistakes made. For me, I realized that I'm not the kind of person who feels the end justifies the means. I endured the struggle, experienced the hustle, and don't see the need to continue to do so for the rest of my transition to adulthood. Until I can support myself, have a job I love, and live the dream New York life I want, I'll leave the hustling to the next batch of Williamsburg's hipster imports. We had a good run, New York, and my life is all the richer for it. Thanks for showing me all of your greatness, your beauty, and the flaws that come with it. Because there is no such thing as perfection, our time together was perfectly imperfect. For now, I'm going back to a former flame- Miami. But after I take care of some unfinished business there, who knows what the cards have in store for us. So this is goodbye. For now.

Love,
Chelsea

Only in New York...

So I had one of my many "only in NY" moments last week as I came across this next door to my agency at Ricky's NYC- a beauty supply store famous for it's wacky goods. It's some kind of advertising promotion for god-knows-what where a man in high heels walks on a treadmill. haha!! There were so many people stopping and snapping pictures along with me. Apparently at another Ricky's in Union Square there is someone who "sleeps" in a bed in the window but I have yet to see this myself. Regardless- this is just too good for words. Where else would you see such a sight? Oh New York, I love you.