What can I say NY?

New York,

What can I say, I'm gunna miss you. Your intimidating height, cramped spaces, expensive taste, congested intersections, and your class will be missed by, me. You have such a history and you inspire so many people. You've even made dreams come true. I think the one thing I will miss the most is your friendship. You embraced me with open arms and were very good to me. Even though I struggled at times to pay my rent, take dance classes, or go to the grocery store, you looked at me and assured me it would be okay somehow. Don't worry now, I'm not leaving you because I do not love you. I just found someone else at the moment. Now there is just no comparison to you, nor will there ever be. I must say, however, that my new love/old love is well.. cleaner, easier to live with, and a little nicer. I am not cutting you down by any means. You are unique and have so much to offer. I'm sure someone just as wonderful as me will come along and you will forget all about me. Don't worry though, I'll come back and visit. Who knows, if things don't work out I know where to find you. We still have 4 weeks left. Let's just make the most of our time together .  Wanna go shopping? 

All my love,

me.

Things are a changin'

I think there comes a point in one's life where you wake up and realize that everything you've work so hard for all of your life, is no longer as important as you thought it was. Decisions and goals change. Life brings moments and people into your life that you'd rather spend your energy on. This does not mean that you cannot still persue goals and dreams. It's just that they change. 

Personally, I am such an advocate for change. Growing up I would rearrange my room because I needed a change. I would move my bed across the room to face a different direction and sometimes I would repaint the walls. If I was feeling really belligerent, I would persuade my sister that she wanted my room and we would switch rooms. One time I even convinced my parents to switch rooms with me, yes it worked! So, I need change in my life and I embrace it with open arms. I even need to change my hair every 3, 4 months. (It's time now, yes.) I know that a change is needed when I look at my hair and say, "This needs to go!"

Today I had an opportunity to go to an audition. This company is huge in modern dance and I know the company well. I taught Pilates for their summer intensive, learned choreography, and graveled at their feet (well sort of). My predicament arose, however, with the "what if" factor. What if I made the audition and was asked to dance in the company? Of course I would do it! Yes, yes, yes! However, I have been making plans to move, signed an apartment lease, and got into another dance company in Chicago. What if I made it? Then all of those plans would fly out the window and I'd travel the world (not so bad I know). However, my other "What if" was, I am in love with a man in Chicago. If I got the audition, that would mean another year without him. I could not do that. I made the choice to move in with my boyfriend in Chicago, begin a life, and explore it together. Together! What is wrong with that? My third wave feminist mind says, "Don't move for a guy. Don't commit right now. Be strong and suck it up! Go after your dreams here and hop around until you make that audition!" However, my heart, MY heart says, "You love him. Just embrace love and go after it. Everything else will fall into place.

I guess I am a sucker for love. Call me a hippie, a wimp, a woman who is weak, I don't care. I am following my heart and there is no doubt in my mind that it will all fall into place. Everything aligns in the end. However, in this case I do not see an end. There is no end to the events of life until we die. I am not dead yet and I am still young. 

Embrace change, embrace life, embrace love. Words of wisdom from me. Thanks for listening. 

Do you know the Muffin Man?

A fellow barista and friend of mine at Starbucks, encountered the Muffin Man yesterday. When I say Muffin Man, I don't mean a nice jolly old man who sells muffins or a large muffin walking the streets just giving them away. This Muffin Man is unnerving and lives in New York City. I cannot legitimize the actions of my fellow barista, I can only tell the story...

Let me set the scene: The day was moving fairly slow inside the cafe and not many customers were wanting caffeine at 5 Pm. Outside the cafe, however, it was bustling with cars and people were  walking home from work on busy Broadway. 

One barista says to another, "I guess these muffins should go into the pastry case?"

Another barista glances at the box of fresh oat bran muffins and replies, "I have a better idea."

Barista one is curious. 

Barista two says, "I dare you to throw a muffin outside."

Barista one is still curious. He does not question, does not glance around, only opens the box of muffins to retrieve one, and walks towards the door. 

Barista two smiles mischieviously and watches barista one walk out to the street.

With hat and apron still displaying 'Starbucks', he chucks the bran muffin into the air. 

*Now, if this were a movie it would be flying through the air in slow motion

Finally, the muffin surrenders to gravity and falls towards the crowd of people below. The muffin chooses its destination onto.... a toe. The muffin exploded below on the Muffin Man's right toe. This Muffin Man stood about 5'11, with receding hair the color of, well oat bran! Silver wire frames held the glasses on his crooked nose, and his raspy voice could be compared to the male version of Joan Rivers. 

In his Joan Rivers voice, he howled, "I WAS JUST HIT WITH A MUFFIN!"

Meanwhile, my friend barista ran like a 12 year old child to the back of the store to hide from the screaming Muffin Man.

No one knew what to think. This man was obviously distressed about a bran muffin coming in contact with his precious toe. (This is also a great time to mention that his toe was covered by a shoe of some sort.)

Anyway, Muffin Man was not happy. Suddenly, in the midst of his screaming fit, he eyed the box of bran muffins and noticed the vacant spot where the fourth muffin once lived. 

"I KNOW IT WAS A BRAN MUFFIN!" He shouted. The store manager came over to the man and tried to console him, by offering free drinks, coupons, coffee mugs, bags of coffee, baristas, etc...

The next day, the store was busy and there were lines of people out the door. Then, the Muffin Man walked through the cafe doors and demanded to see the manager again. I only heard bits of valuable information and went in search of my barista friend. He was steaming milk at the espresso bar. I warned him that the Muffin Man was inside the cafe and to not look over at him. He ducked behind the bar, his eyes wide with fear. 

My manager asked the Muffin Man if he could further get him anything and again apologized for the "inconvenience".

The Muffin Man rubbed his bald head and looked around the cafe in search of barista. His raspy voice dripped from his mouth as he said, "Well, I would love to string that guy up and beat him with muffins!" 

The store manager bit his tongue, to contain laughter and just stared at the Muffin Man.

"Obviously I have no muffins to do this, so I would just like a coupon." Then he left the store with a free coffee in hand. 

The moral of this story: Next time you decide to throw a muffin, take off your hat and apron and throw it away from the Muffin Man.