It's not a fashion statement, it's a deathwish.

haha, that is the title of the song playing right now. Whenever I am unable to think of a title, that is what you guys will be getting. It's by My Chemical Romance

Hmm...so last night was totally random. I got a little drunk on wine as my roomates were out. I didn't mean to, it just sorta happened. I then decided that the best idea ever was to go out and hit a club, but not b/c of peer pressure, no I went by myself. What the hell right? I went to that club that I got into the opening for, Pink Elephant. I didn't mean to go there, again, but I got out of the cab a bit too early, and ended up there. Whatev, it was fun. Random fun! I LOVE IT!

Have you ever thought about something so much that you need to escape it? For me that is almost everything, everyday. I have said this a million times, but I exsist solely in my head. No truer statement has ever been made. My neurosis is getting the better of me, so off I go to spend some time with my family in Florida. I fly standby so there are no guarantees that I will make the flight. But I have to try. I need to stop thinking and just be. I will have my neices and nephew (no they aren't really my neices and nephew, however, that is what I consider them) to distract me from these busy thoughts in my head.

Ok peeps! (Can you have a peep - singular?) haha chunk!

keep it real!

i


OH YEAH!!! HAPPY CANADA DAY!!!!!

Where the hell did this come from?

My roommate and I left work today, and it was NICE! Sunny and not too humid. A great day. I was going to going to take her to the Gansevoort today it was so nice. Then, we get off the subway, and it is POURING! Holy change in weather Batman! I love the rain, and I got some thunder and lightning. I dig it.

So despite my wonderful googling skills, I was unable to find a picture of this painting I saw at the MoMA the other day. FINALLY I found one.

The title helped me relate to it. It is by Hans Richter and its called Ecstasy Threatened by Doubt. Those of you that know me know that this is the story of my life. Constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop. I truly believe in a balance in the universe, and this balance has left me riddled with doubt and caused me to always look around the corner. GREAT! But I thought I would share with you all this painting. My favorite from my four hour museum expedition.

Well I think that is all for today. Sorry for being so melancholy yesterday. It just sorta hit me all at once. Today was considerably better. The walk was a wonderful stress reliever and allowed me to clear my head of the cobweb that is life.

Back to my wine. (I am totally going to need AA when I get back ... wait, I think I needed it before!)

Holla at cha girl!

i

My worst day so far, so I go for a walk, get totally lost and have a random adventure. Not a bad ending.

That pretty much sums up my day. My roommate put it perfectly. "It's one of those days that you feel like, if you were in Gattica, you never would have survived." I swear. I was scraping the bottom of the barrel of intelligence today. Unable to compose a complete sentence, let alone write a pitch letter. BRUTAL!

On top of that, I was missing you guys today. I was missing my jaded, bitter, cynical, apathetic, substance abusing, unassumingly brilliant, sarcastic, hilarious, honest, individualistic, talented, unapologetically true-to-themselves friends. (I had to use the thesaurus a few times on that one). I am very picky about my shoes, so of course I am picky about my friends.

And I don't miss you all for the same reasons. I miss some for the lengthy email conversations, some for the lengthy walk conversations, some for the lengthy giggle fits, some for the lengthy 'I don't want to go home yet' conversations.

I know I am a big fat wimp for missing everyone so soon, but as a perpetually single only-child, my co-dependency is palpable. You have all helped to create this monster that sits at this computer, and I will be re-paying you all for my dysfunction.

But, thankfully, a little loneliness is easy cured by the randomness that is life, and the energy of this city. Surrounded my millions, my loneliness felt ... insignificant. Incredible.

So there is today's post. I have become fairly regular with these posts. I hope you all are doing well.

i

It's not a phone, its a headset

I have found new technology. SKYPE!!! I am now able to call land lines for free on my computer. I love technology. So if I call you and there is some weird sounds, its not a phone, its a headset.

I am also in love with the availability of things to do in this city. I walk, and then there is new thing to do! Its great.

So today I did some more shopping. Bought a pair of Moschino capris for $19!!! Can you imagine? Well I couldn't! There was no way in hell I wasn't picking them up! It was too hard to resist. As is most of the shopping here.

I was hoping to come home for Anne's wedding, but unfortunately it doesn't look like its going to work out. That sucks, b/c there are lot of clothes that I so wish I had brought, and a lot that I am so not wearing.

So do you guys like how this post is all about clothes? What else would you expect from me!!! haha, shallow like a puddle. Actually, probably more like a rain drop.

Alrighty peeps! I am going out. Hopefully Jake Gyllenhaal will be there (Jarod, did I spell that right?) He is my NY goal. NICE!

Haha, I love a glass of wine on an empty stomach!

Keep it real!

i

Why did I write that previous post??

This is what I have been missing? I take back all of my previous comments!




haha, just joking. I found this pic today at work, and I just kept the window open b/c I was laughing at it so hard! This is actually the pic that inspired the previous post. I love this freaking picture!!!!

Where would I be without you guys?

Hey all!

So I really appreciate you all wasting your days reading this blog. It gives me a sense of security knowing that I am able to communicate with the people I care about, without having to spend my precious pay-as-you-go minutes (it makes my dad happy too!).

I also just wanted to let everyone know how much I miss them. I love this city and everything that I have been able to do here, but whenever I am out, I keep thinking, "This is AWESOME! [insert name here] would totally love this! DAMN I WISH THEY WERE HERE!"

So that being said, the only thing that would make this whole experience better would be sharing it with you guys. I so would love it if I could use some crazy Star Trek technology and figure out how to do that.

But in the meantime, I will continue to have a kick ass time on my own. Maybe it will toughen me up!

I am probably going to be lame tonight and just go home, so don't expect an exciting post tomorrow.

Keep your ears to the ground!

i

I'm alone, a little drunk and covered in Canada stuff ... I am totally going to get beat up!

I really do! I have never gotten the chance to see her in concert. She has been to Edmonton many times, but unfortunately I have never been able to make it. So today, in the Park, the Summer Stage Concert series featured Canada Day. Jason Collett (who was really good if you haven't had the chance to hear him) Buck 65, who I think is just ridic and ... wait for it ... FEIST!!!!


She was amazing. My girl crush has not gone away. In fact, it has probably grown from seeing her live. There were a lot of people there for the whole day thing. (Well 3 hours, but that is a lot of time to be spending on some random Canucks). Most of them were there for Feist, b/c this is NY and these people do have inherently great taste. The concert was great. It was a great time! I also saw Pamela Wallin. That was neat, not as neat as Feist, but still, a little Canadiana. They were giving out all of this free Canada stuff. So of course, the proud Canuck that I am felt the need to deck myself out in it. Seriously, I had the little paper Canada flag on my bag, the Canada flag temporary tattoo (don't worry mom) and a Canada t-shirt. Seriously, I was obnoxious. But it was great. A couple beers, and a little Canadiana goes a LONG WAY!!!

This afternoon was interesting as well. I randomly walked out of the dorm this AM and hit Washington Square Park just as it started raining. It was nice to just stand under the arch and watch the rain. I like that this city -supports Americana but not in the over-the-top way that DC does. I dig it.

I then walked to SOHO. I need to stop with SOHO. I bought 3 more pairs of shoes, all really good deal. One has the style name Iris ... the narcisist in me had to buy them. hahaha. then I made my way down to Little Italy and had a really good Italian lunch. Talked to this Italian couple from Jersey. They were older, and he was telling me how Canada is opening up the border to increase our population. Is this bullshit? I had nothing to argue with other than US pressure has forced us to change our immigration policy. Can someone please fill me in!!! I hate being unable to properly argue with ignorant Americans!!!

Ok y'all. I hope you have had a wonderful weekend! I know I did!

Holla!

i

When you imagine a day in NY, this is what you should imagine

So I had the most PERFECT day in the city yesterday! I am talking there is no way that it could have been any better.

I had an amazing day at work. I am starting to get into the groove, so that is all good. I really like all of my co-workers, so that is a bonus. Ok, on to the PERFECT DAY!!!

Met a friend on Broadway in the afternoon. Walked to the Museum of Modern Art and spent 4 hours there looking at all the amazing stuff. I know a lot of people really like the Guggenheim, but this blew it out of the water. AMAZING!! They have this incredible DADA exhibit right now, and to imagine what all these crazy artists must have been going through is insane.

We then went to Pastis. Yes Pastis. For any Sex and the City fan, you know Pastis. It is where Carrie eats a bunch of times. Its in the Meatpacking District. It's this very hip French restaurant, and the food was ab fab! Then walked around the Meatpacking District and headed to the Gansevoort Hotel. Hung out in this hip little outdoor lounge, that was so cool it felt like we were in Hawaii. We then made it upstairs to the rooftop lounge, where they have the most amazing view of the Hudson River and Jersey. AMAZING!!!

Its incredible to me that people are able to live in this city! Can you imagine having things like this at your disposal all the time? AMAZING!!! It was a long day, and my feet and the blisters on them will prove it, ut it truly was the best night I have ever had in New York, and as most of you remember, that includes getting into the opening of The Pink Elephant the last time I was here. I never thought anything would beat that!!!

I know this post is a little late in coming, but I believe it was a worthwhile wait. Hopefully you all agree. Paul thinks that I should be replying to the posts y'all are leaving, and while I love the comments! (Keep em coming!) I don't think that i will entertain that option, simply b/c I think that will just take up a lot of time that you guys don't want to waste.

I love you all, and I miss you all, but this city freaking rocks!!!

Peace out hommies!

i

Holy Shit! I am in New York!

I kinda realized it today. I AM IN NEW YORK!!!

I was walking home (well really, I was trying to hit a couple of sample sales I heard about) from work today, stopped in to a little cheap sushi place, walked out, looked up and there was the Empire State Building. Freaking amazing! I am still in shock that I am able to spend a little time here.

What did I do today .... other than a lot of walking in high heels? Not a lot. I didn't make the sample sales, and I know my credit card company is disappointed, but I probably didn't need the things I was going to buy.

I DID however, get some Yeah Yeah Yeahs tickets! YEAH!!! haha, that will never stop being funny to me! But, I am still trying to get Bloc Party tickets. They are coming here in July, and I REALLY want to go and see them!!!

This is my favorite pic so far ... I got on the wrong train one day and ended up on a train to Brooklyn. No worries, except it TOTALLY creeped me out that there was no one in the station or on the train. It was straight out of a "the world is coming to an end, so everyone has fleed the city" type of movie. Still very cool!



And then this is the problem with sight seeing by yourself. There is no one to take any pics of you, so you end up trying to do it yourself and looking STUPID!!! If you can see it, that is the Brooklyn Bridge in the background. These were both from my Sunday tour.



Ok, enough of that. I am hoping to get to go to the NYC Ballet tomorrow for a whopping $12! They have a student special, and I think it would just be VERY cool to go to the Lincoln Centre and see a ballet. (Do you like the way I am still spelling like a Canadian, eh?!)

Ok, this is Iris, over and out!

White trash, a dirty old Fin and a cute bartender

Ok, I get it. I am a bad blogger! I was just WAY too drunk last night to write anything (I would have offended some people ... well really everything I say offends someone, so I guess I was just too drunk)

Hmmm ... what have I done since my last post. Well I had a total case of the Mondays yesterday. I had such a bad case of the Mondays in fact that a sale at Bloomies was unable to cheer me up! So I got REALLY drunk! And that cheered me up! hahaha.

Went to ESPN Zone again to watch the game. It was totally disappointing, but met some interesting characters. Its amazing how much attention a girl alone at a sports bar gets! There was a white trash guy from South Carolina there. He was drunk and obnoxious, so since I was already drunk, I too decided to get obnoxious. And, as all of you probably are well aware, I can get REALLY obnoxious! I was also sitting next to a group of Finnish men. They are nothing like Harry Salimaki. These guys were CREEPY! And then there was a very cute bartender, and we all know that I have a thing for B men (bartenders, bellman, banquet porters) the list can go on and on. So all in all it was a good night. But let me tell ya, that place was FULL of Albertans! I met some chick from Medicine Hat. There was a couple from Calgary and a guy from Edmonton. The chants were going again

I am trying to figure out the best way for me to send pics, and I have put together a PowerPoint presentation (Thanks Steve and Jarod for the idea) but I need a way to compress it and send it. If anyone has any ideas, either post them or email me them.

I didn't get to see Moby last night. I was too drunk, and by the time I got home it was already close to 1. I am trying to get a real-life job here, so I figured going in tired and hungover was not the best idea.

I didn't think that I would be getting homesick, but I have been working on the Travel Alberta account for the past couple of days, and seeing all the pics and beautiful scenery and just being reminded of random places like Ponoka makes me miss Alberta just a little.

That is all for now. Hope all is well wherever you may be. I miss you all. Call me sometime! I am hanging out by myself alone alot, so a little conversation is ALWAYS appreciated!

Love

i

Let's Go Oilers

Yesterday was a waste of a day. I sat in my room recuperating from this past week. I swear, I am going to be skinnier than my dad when I get home (and that is an accomplishment, b/c he is like Ethiopian skinny).

I did get to see the game however, and it was amazing. The "Let's Go Oilers" chant was going through ESPN Zone. It was almost like I was home watching the game at E & C or something. Very cool.

Today was HOT! I think I sweated all the toxins that have ever entered my body. Incredible. Saw Wall Street and the Financial District. Broke a pair of shoes, but was right next to Century 21 so I got two more pairs. I am seriously going to need to ship stuff home! I hit the South Street Seaport, and saw the Brooklyn Bridge and got a bunch of pics of that and Brooklyn. Then I got too hot, jumped on the wrong train and ended up in Brooklyn. (I am a nerd!) and now I sit here and post all this. This city is incredible. My roomie went shoe shopping today (leave to a couple Canadians to dry this city of their shoe stock) and some random guy (who she was just giving shoe advice to) bought her 2 pairs of shoes, and didn't ask for anything in return. I was a little jelly that I wasn't with her.

Game 7 tomorrow. And Moby is spinning at some club in Alphabet City. So excited! I am mainly excited b/c now Jarod is going to be soooo jealous of me. Hey roro, where are you going again tomorrow, oh, that's right, the Mac. Well ... I will let you know how Moby is live. Ok, be jealous!

the subway ran over my head

Well at least that's how it feels. Paul told me to try and post something everyday, so here is my post for today.

I am hungover. This city is loud and my head hurts. I am going to go and get McDonald's. I hope no one ever feels like this. Damn wine, gin and jag! But the wine was super cheap, like $3.99! We bought 2 btls. No wonder I am on the verge of death.

In the beginning there was shopping

First off, I want to send a shout out to Sarah for giving me the BRILLIANT idea of creating a blog. Sarah, I can't wait for you to come and help me ship home some of my clothes! HOLLA!

This week was ... well expensive. I know that there are a million things to do in this city that don't cost any money, but shopping is not one of them! And if you know me at all, you know that my most dangerous addiction, other than a little vicodin, is shopping. I came to NY at the right time --- SALE SEASON!!! Just walking down the street is another sale, and another place to use my credit card. But I have been making some fab purchases. Carrie Bradshaw would be proud. Sample sales are great! I didn't realize how cool they were. And there are some AMAZING consignment shops on the upper east side. Right by my work.

Work was really good this week too. A couple of hairy days, but I have survived, and I think that I am going to like it at this office. Apparently, a lot of interns get head-hunted from this firm (and not by Pygmies!), so keep your fingers crossed.

The dorm is, well ... ghetto. Like I am talking, GHETTO!!!! And the sad thing is thing is, all the American students think this place is really nice! And we are talking people that go to private schools that cost $30k a year! What is this government doing to their students! I will never complain about my Canadian education again!

I have been spending a lot of time alone. I think everyone knows how much I value my alone time, and just walking through the Park (yes Central Park) gives me a little peace of mind. It was Museum Mile Festival the other day, so all the museums on Museum Mile were free. I walked to the Guggenheim from work (about 35 blks) and then through the Park, over to the West Side, and then ALL THE WAY HOME!! I walked about 125 blks that evening, and by about the last half block I thought I was going to die. Paul, I know we walked a lot this summer, but nothing prepared me for this.

The area we are in is incredible. So much going on. I saw the Spiderman 3 set shooting the other day. That was pretty nifty. They asked me to take a part in it, but I graciously declined, and just sat 1 block away and tried to take some pics. Still very cool.

No celeb sitings yet. I am checking out gawker.com/stalker regularly though, so hopefully something will come up.

Well enough of my crap. Sorry this was so long, just loving the idea of this blog, again, thanks Sarah. Go Oilers! I can't imagine what Whyte will be like if we win tomorrow. INSANE!! Hopefully there isn't a freaking baseball game, so that way I can watch it somewhere cheap!

My new motto, if you can't have ice on a pond at anytime during the year, you shouldn't have a hockey team. I think I have pissed off a few people with that.

Peace out!

i