First post of 25

Hi!

I knew I wanted to write a post about my life in LA and it seemed too perfect I am turning 25 today. I am still not sure what I want to write about but here are a few items worth noting.

I was reading my blog post from Septembet 5th and I realized not much as changed. I have the same job, I go to the same dance studio, I miss dancing in NYC, and I am still a terrible driver. I am used to having a totally different life every few months so consistency different for me.

Things are good- and have stayed that way. Living in LA has an ease to it compared to NYC. I just feel more relaxed and things get done. I had to work this past weekend and I am so drained from it, I am not sure how I worked so much in New York.

I enjoy meeting with people and my friend circle is slowly growing. I just got a new small group and I am meeting people in the dance community. I was fortunate enough to dance for a choreographer here in LA too! Very randomly I have been reconnecting with people from my past like my old dance teacher or a junior high classmate. I am pretty happy about it!

I got a crockpot and I am obsessed- SEND ME YOUR CROCKPOT RECIPES!!!!!

Here is the link the group number we did in Hwood! I promise my next post will be more thoughtful~

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbQZb_pbmeM

-Chrissie

Life in LA

When I was growing up I always hated LA. My parents would drive me up for various dance related things and I always thought Orange County was much better. Now that I live here, I am learning there is so much I did not know about LA. Here are the things I am learning:
1. Manhattan Beach is possibly the most beautiful beach I have ever seen. Walking along the beautiful houses is a site to be seen!
2. Venice beach has little canals that look like Italy. Today I walked along the Venice Canals and I saw all the canoes and people outside reading.
3. I will have to pay for parking. Always.
4. West LA is not that big. I have seen the same people at the gym, the grocery store, and out on the town. Sometimes this is a good thing. Sometimes this is not a good thing.
5. The Marina Del Rey Costco is the busiest Costco on the mainland. No matter what time of day I go, it is packed.
6. The time difference to the East Coast really does suck. I hate not being able to Facetime with Vienna in the evening and so I have to call at 6am PST in order to see her. Last time I was barely awake but just seeing her face made me happy.

Here are things I miss about NYC:
1. Taking contemporary dance class. I found a great ballet studio but I have yet to find a place to do Contemporary work. I really miss being able to take class at any hour of day.
2. Walking places. The only place I can walk to is Single Ralphs (It is just a regular Ralphs but mainly single people shop there. Maybe I should shop there more?)
3. My friends. I love my friends here but I can't help but miss my crew back in NYC.....

                                                               The Venice Canals!

The Blanket

Some of you may have heard me talk about Sarah Craft. Sarah was my roommate when I lived in Silver Spring, MD and now she lives in  Japan. Well one of my favorite stories we have together is the night we met. I had been in DC for about 0 minutes (really 2 days with my family and one on my own) and after my first day of being an intern I decided to go to small group. But first I needed a blanket to sleep with (after all it was the terrible winter of 2010) and so I picked one up before the group met at the diner. I picked the best one- a full size down comforter-and they only had a queen duvet so that is what I got.

I walked into the diner carrying this big white lump and sat down and made some new friends. I honestly do not know who was sitting next to me or across from me, but sitting diagonally was a girl rocking a turtleneck. She seemed to laugh at my odd jokes and a few weeks later she asked if I was interested in being her roommate.

Living with Sarah and Rosa was amazing. Our apartment rocked (gym and a pool) and these girls were legit. I was invited into their tight group of friends and I instantly had 10 best girl friends in Maryland. I would  Sarah or Rosa to wake me up sometimes and they would have to find me under my twin size blanket- (YUP IT WAS REALLY A TWIN! MARSHALLS-YOU LIED TO ME) That year was a lot of change for me. I had a break up, I started working full time, I danced in a company, I learned how to deal with people, I took public transportation, I learned how to dress for the snow, I learned how to gchat with 8 people at once etc. And I came home to a big white blanket every night.

When I moved to NYC I shipped the blanket off and it barely fit in my biggest box. I stuffed it in with my memory foam and saw it a few months later ( I did not need a down comforter in a NYC summer). I had four different apartments in NYC and my blanket was by my side.

This brings me to today. Tomorrow is my last day in NYC as I am moving to LA. (Yup, moving again). More has happened in NYC than I thought could happen to a human and now it is time to go. I started packing a few weeks ago and most things were easy to pack or toss. Cowboy boots- yes. Hangers-no. But then I came to the blanket. It would cost more to ship than it was originally. I probably don't need a down comforter in LA as the weather is always perfect. A twin comforter with a queen duvet doesn't even make sense. I was leaning towards a new blanket.

And then I thought of Sarah. I thought of all the memories with that blanket. I thought of the girl that I was when I moved to DC, and how bright eyed she was. I thought of my friends and how much they have shaped me into the person I am today.

I vacuum sealed the blanket. You will see it in my new apartment not just because I found a big enough box, but because its comforting to me. Kind of like a huge security blanket?

 I have no idea what new adventures LA will bring, but I know I want to come home to that blanket. Good days, bad days, my blanket will be there. Just like the friends I have made and the people that have supported me.

Maybe I will get a new pillow instead?

an overdue update

I apologize. The purpose of this blog is to keep people up to date about my life. As my last post was in March 2012, I can honestly say I have failed. But a new year and new resolutions means I get to try again. Here it goes:

The recap of the past 9 months:

1. I graduated from NYU with my MA in Dance Education and K-12 Certificate. I made amazing friends, learned about dance ed, and hopefully launched a new part of my career..
2. I student taught at two amazing sites- PS 372 and JKO High School. I could not have asked for better cooperating teachers and I had to keep blogs about my experiences there. (those are pretty personal so I can't share those)
3. I moved apartments. Twice.
4. I joined a small group at Redeemer and decided to attend Redeemer.
5. I went back home 4 times (Pollo asada fries....I want some right now......)
6. I worked a bunch of jobs.

Here is what is happening now:
1. I am teaching at the Joffrey Ballet School, 3rd Street Music School Settlement Preschool, Chabad Jewish Preschool.
2. I am an HR intern at Roosevelt Management Company doing temp work for less than 10 hours a week.
3. I moved apartments and I now live with 4 other girls in an amazing apartment on 101st
4. I got a Costco membership
5. I am incredibly blessed to have my small group, the broodles, my CA friends, and family constantly supporting me
6. Vienna Lin Chuang. If you don't know who she is or how I feel about her- then you are not my real friend!

NYC continues to amaze me and I am incredibly lucky to live in my favorite city. However, the tides are turning and I am looking into other cities to move to. Any suggestions?