job hunt

Us does not have interns in the office on Tuesdays, so I spent the day checking things off of my to do list and I must say I feel very accomplished. First I got my ID card finally, and then I went to grab lunch at the dining hall which is a few blocks from my dorm (kind of inconvenient for the mornings). This dining hall has got nothing on EVK and Parkside (the dining halls at USC). Even though I have only had one meal there, I can safely say the Parkside pizza is far superior. After lunch, I walked up 5th ave to get job applications. I picked them up from some of my faves: Urban, J. Crew, Madewell, Zara, Free People, Anthropologie and went home to spend the afternoon filling them out. I have successfully memorized the addresses and phone numbers of my past three employers. Katy has kindly said I can use her printer to print my resume, so I am going to do that tonight and turn all of the applications in after work tomorrow. Katy and I are going to see Bridesmaids tonight, so hopefully it is worth a cash because I can already tell this is going to be one expensive summer. I told myself I cannot buy any clothing from any of the above retailers unless I am employed (preferably by one of those companies to get a discount).

As I was walking around today I realized how much I already love this city. It's awesome and I am so lucky and thankful to be here (shout out to mom and dad). One of my sister's friends who is also going to be living at NYU told me how to look up who your roommate is online, so after I was finally able to get Internet I figured it out. I do have a roommate, she is just moving in next week. She answered pretty similarly to all of the roommate questions, so I think it should be okay. We will see on Sunday! I am off to read more of this amazing book, eat and meet Katy for the movie. 

Empire State Building from 5th ave

   

first day at Us

After a miserable night’s sleep, which I blame on jetlag, nerves and lack of earplugs, I woke up before my alarm to get ready for my first day at Us. I had been tossing around outfit ideas for the first day since the week I learned I got the internship, but was slightly unsure of what to go with. The office attire is very casual, but I never want to be underdressed, so I went with a navy, silk skirt and white, burnout top with silver sandals and accessories. I was going to wear heels and even brought them in my bag to the office, but decided against it on the subway. I way over budgeted for time so I walked around in search for a Starbucks — no luck because I walked in the wrong direction I later found out. A little before 10 (when I was supposed to be there), I entered the building. After waiting with security to let me upstairs (they were being extra stringent because it was a holiday), someone from Us came down to rescue me. He led me to my supervisor Brad’s desk. He showed me where the interns worked and I read an instruction packet on what we are supposed to do each day. I met some of the other interns, Grace, who goes to Columbia, Laura, who graduated with a degree in journalism, and another guy whose name is escaping me right now.

We start each day by reading blogs and newspapers, and transcribe what is new and relevant to the kind of information reported in Us. We compile all of our findings and send them to Brad, who sends the information to various editors. Next, we watch celebrity interviews on the various talk shows and record any interesting quotes they say, particularly about their love lives or if they say something off the wall and crazy. There was food for lunch provided because they feed the staff for Memorial Day, but usually we have to bring our own food and eat it at our desk. In the afternoon we check the blogs again for any new updates and follow the same procedure as in the morning. We finished our work pretty early, but stuck around just in case we were needed for something. Brad explained Mondays are usually slow and today was especially slow because it was a holiday. At six I left and met my dad in front of the building and we walked to his hotel only a few blocks away. We decided on sushi for his last dinner in the city and took a cab to the restaurant — really good sushi and inventive rolls. Dad dropped me off at my dorm and we said good bye (even though he is going to be back next week for business), and I met up with Katy who just got back to the city from visiting home in Baltimore. We got ice cream from a truck and walked to Union Square, which was packed, and then back and around to my dorm. No, there is still no roommate and I am starting to think I got super lucky, but I am going to check with the front desk tomorrow just to make sure. I do not have work tomorrow, but I still have a few things to get done. Most importantly, get my damn NYU ID card, which will allow me to set up my Internet and eat in the dining hall (which I found out is on the other side of the park). I am also going to pick up as many job applications as possible, fill them out and hopefully return them. It is supposed to be really hot tomorrow, so if the heat is bearable I want to read more of my book in the park and maybe explore a little more.

J's Mart I saw walking in the village 

move-in day

I woke up leisurely Sunday (move-in day), got ready and met my dad for breakfast. Our original plan was for me to hop out of the cab, grab my NYU ID card while the cab waited and head to my dorm (which is on the opposite end of Washington Square Park as the place I was picking up the ID). But as we approached it became clear out plan was foiled. The line to pick up the ID was out the door, around the corner and down the block. My dad estimated it would be a two-hour wait, and he was right. After dragging my bags a block and a half, we finally reached the office (an absolutely chaotic mess). And guess what… my ID was not in the not alphabetized WXYZ stack, even though I sent in my picture a month ago. I had to wait until after the holiday to see if a different office has it ready. This is inconvenient. Not only does my ID give me access to my dorm, but it is also what I use for meals and there is a number on it I have to use to be able to get on NYU’s internet. Thus, why I am behind in my blogging.

My room is on the fifth floor of my dorm and has a shared bathroom (a shower, toilet and sink) with the room next door. There was no sign of a roommate, but I figured she was stuck in the ID line or flying in that day. After a trip to CVS, Ace Hardware, TJ Maxx, Bed, Bath and Beyond and a second trip to Ace, I was unpacked and settled in my room. My dad and I went out to dinner at an Italian restaurant a few blocks from my building, and then we did a subway test run to make sure I had the route to Us Weekly down. It was really fast and easy — thank God.

When I got back to my room I was exhausted, and there was still no roommate, so I watched “Almost Famous,” which I did not get to finish on the plane. It ended up being a very appropriate movie for the night before my internship started. For those of you who haven’t seen it, the film is about a young, rock journalist who goes on tour with a band to write a Rolling Stone (which happens to be owned by the same company who owns Us) article about them. It’s an awesome movie. At the end the lead singer of the band says, “He was never a person, he is a journalist.” I shouldn’t like this line because it refers to the stereotype that journalists are emotionless robots. I like it because it does take a specific kind of person to be a journalist, not a better or worse person, just different. Journalists are assholes. They uncover things people want to keep secret and they don’t go away. Most of them think they are the smartest, most witty person in the room. They are competitive, a little bitter and will never settle. And above all they live to see their bylines — the recognition, the prestige, being the best. I also started reading “A Reliable Wife” after the movie was over and couldn’t put it down. I went to bed filled with nervous energy for my first day.

my side of the tiny room

NYC bound

I apologize for being delinquent with my posts, but I was unable to access the Internet in my dorm for my first few days here for reasons I will explain later. First I will address old business before I get on with the new stuff. My mom, Jen and I failed to eat at Liberty because it is more of a bar than a restaurant, and Jen and I are both under 21 so were not allowed to even just eat there (super lame). We ended up eating at Smith a few blocks away. To start we shared a cheese and dried meats platter and olives, which were very tasty and could have easily been my meal had I eaten it alone. Jen and my mom ordered salads (mom’s bread salad was lack luster) and I, always being a sucker for a good burger, settled on the classic American dish. It was a very satisfying and delicious meal, although I have had better burgers in my life.

Now on to the beginning of my New York adventure! My dad and I flew out on Saturday morning, and after a short layover in Chicago we arrived in New York around 10 or 10:30 p.m. When I first stepped off the plane I could already feel the humidity (and the next day I saw what it could do to my hair — awful). My dad and I each got a room at the Waldorf, so I could be spared his snoring. The hotel is beautiful, very old and classic, but borderline creepy. After we got settled we went out for a bite to eat at a steak house. I was shocked they were still seating people at 11:15 p.m. (and the kitchen is open until 2 a.m.!), but it is the city that never sleeps. After my jumbo shrimp cocktail I was ready for a shower and bed, but found falling asleep to be harder than I anticipated because of the time difference. But after an episode of How I Met Your Mother, I was out.

Side note: I had been reading The Help while I was home and got to finish the novel on the plane. Such a good book, and now I can’t wait to see the movie.

Waldorf Hotel lobby

one more day in Seattle

I have compiled everything I need for New York, but I am dreading packing and have put it off until my last day in Seattle. Yes, tomorrow my bedroom will be filled with mountains of clothes and piles of shoes, much to my mom's dismay. So much preparation has already gone into my summer and I just want to get to New York already!

Over the last few days I have been spending time with friends from high school who I would normally get to spend all summer with. A few of us watched The Roommate, a horrible thriller that still managed to give me nightmares, because we couldn't get out hands on Seven, which from what I have heard is one of the best horror movies ever. Last night, I saw The Hangover: Part II at midnight and absolutely loved it. It was just as hilarious as the first one and, of course, I could never get tired of watching Bradley Cooper. Tonight Jen, my mom and I are going out to eat at Liberty, a restaurant none of us have tried on Capitol Hill. I'll fill you in on how the food is soon. Later, I plan on spending my second to last night with some friends, as many of them are leaving tomorrow for Sasquatch, a four-day music festival a few hours from Seattle. My time at home went by so fast, but I can't wait to start at Us on Monday! Just got an e-mail from my boss saying I start at 10am... now I have to figure out what to wear on my first day.

Seattle skyline from Queen Anne

  

hello

I have wanted to start a blog for a long time, but never found the time or opportunity to start one. This summer I am interning for Us Weekly in New York, and soon after I heard the news I decided I was going to take a picture of something interesting everyday I was in the city--sort of like a photo journal. A blog seemed like the perfect way to share these pictures and my experiences, so here we are. A few days ago, my mom and I were brainstorming what I should title my blog. She was thumbing through a few old books and flipped to a page with the heading "everything is copy." For those of you who aren't familiar with publishing terminology, copy is the text, the story of a publication. So my New York adventures (and beyond) will comprise the copy of this publication. I liked the phrase because there are so many moments in life that would make great stories, but never get shared. I am doing this to ensure my stories are shared, remembered and hopefully make you laugh from time to time. 

Here are some of the facts surrounding my time in New York:

1) I am living in the NYU dorms

2) Roommate TBD (we will find out on move-in day)

3) I am doing an editorial internship so don't think Lauren Conrad (even though I love the girl)

4) My little sis in Gamma Phi Katy is going to be living in the city with her aunt and uncle only a few blocks from my dorm doing a film internship 

5) My best friend Katie (I am only friends with girls named Katie) is doing a political internship in DC so I plan on visiting her a few times

6) A few other girls from my sorority and family will be in the city or visiting 

7) I work at Us three days a week unpaid 

8) I am attempting to get a part-time job to support my J. Crew, Nordstrom and fine dining habits

9) I am leaving for New York May 28th and return to Seattle August 6th before flying back down to LA on the 11th for rush school

Hayden Hall (Washington Square Park)

Us Weekly Headquarters