Not 13, but almost 1

This morning, I got a reminder message on my phone: Today would have been my New York anniversary.  On this day thirteen years ago, I moved to NYC and started a new life there. Seems like just yesterday I made that move that forever changed my life. I was actually supposed to be there today running the Brooklyn Half Marathon (and getting my revenge for last year's race), but instead my hamstring and knee still aren't healed so I never booked the flight. Turns out though, I probably wouldn't have been able to race anyway because of my Shingles. I tried putting on a sports bra last night (in hopes of trying to workout this morning in some capacity) and nope, it hurt way too much on my rash. Plus, I still don't have much energy and don't know if 13.1 would have been possible to run today. 

This Jewish Girl LOVES Christmas Time

Its December!! It's the last month of 2016 and one of the most cheerful and festive months of the year. I am usually only home in Chicago the last week of Chicago for winter break and only get downtown once or twice in that time, but now that I live here, I get to experience the holidays in the city all winter long. Some of the holiday stuff went up mid-November and now that Thanksgiving is over, most of it is up which makes me so excited. For a Jewish girl, there are few things in life that make me more excited than gaudy, bright, sparkly Christmas decorations. I make zero apologies for it. The brighter and tackier, the better. It makes me soooooo happy!!!

Check: My NYC Bucket List

With a little less than a month to go living in NYC and a summer off, I am trying to enjoy myself as much as possible and take in as much of this city as I possibly can. I feel like I have to get my last licks of my favorite places and foods and just get out as much as I can.

So many people keep asking me what I'm going to do with my limited time left here. They keep asking me what's on my "NYC Bucket List" and at first I really had to think about it a lot. In my 12 years living here, I've really seen and done a whole lot of stuff. Like a lot. The fact I'm such an active and curious person has allowed me to see and do so much in my time here. Running has helped me cover a lot of ground and having visitors come quite often has also allowed me to get to places I wouldn't normally go see (like museums or other touristy things). If it's on a New York "MUST" list, I've probably done it multiple times. 

One Big Leap...

"Hello fear. Thank you for being here You're my indication that I'm doing what I need to do." And let me tell you, right now I am scared shitless. But I am also very excited and very hopeful. It still hasn't totally sunken in yet, but last week I made the final decision to leave my job as a teacher (and a coach) and also make the move back home to Chicago. These were two major life decisions made very quickly but with a ton of thought. They were things I had been thinking about over the last year and I finally had to pull the band-aid off and do it. Were they the right decisions? I don't know. Were they the smartest decisions? I'm not sure. But did they need to be made? Yes. 

Twelve.

Twelve has always been my lucky number. And today happens to be my twelfth anniversary living in New York City. Can you believe it? Wow.

Since I was born on January 12, I have always used 12 as my go-to number. Because of this, it makes this anniversary a little more special to me. I also know I say this every year, but its crazy to think I have lived in this marvelous city for 12 years. If you would have asked me 12 years ago if I would still be living in New York City in 2016, I would have laughed in your face. Seriously. Well, I guess the joke's on me because I instantly fell in love with New York and made a life for myself here.

Run Your 'Hood

I love activewear. It's no secret that I love wearing sweats and leggings all the damn time. If I was allowed to wear them to work everyday, I would. I wear them to work out, I shower, and then I put on clean activewear to do whatever it is I am going to do during the day. It's magical. People are always asking me "Are you on your way to the gym?" to which I have to reply with "No, this is just how I dress." I make no apologies for it. It's what I am most comfortable wearing and that's all that matters.

Today was a good day...

In the words of Ice Cube, "Today was a good day." It was a damn good Saturday, but I'm not that surprised, as most of my weekends are quite enjoyable. With Thanksgiving approaching and soon after that, winter break, I am thrilled to have some days off from work. This whole work 5-days a week doing something I don't enjoy anymore is not really my thing, but I'm making do. I'm trying not to dwell on the negative, because basically, that gets me nowhere except a one-way ticket to sadness and I've been experiencing too much of that lately. Everyday, I seem to go through the motions at work and just keep moving along. I look forward to days off and weekends like crazy and when I have them, I take full advantage doing things that I really enjoy doing. Today combined so many things I enjoy and in a time that I have been struggling tremendously, it was a day I needed. It was also a day where I had a smile plastered on my face for most of it.

Blogiversary Numero Cuatro!

Happy fourth anniversary to Someone Will Appreciate!!! Today this little blog of mine turned four and every time I have an anniversary for it, I am kind of shocked and excited. I know that not many people read my blog but I still really enjoy writing. It's a huge outlet for me. I obviously go through periods of writing a bunch and then not having anything really to discuss. I don't want to post just for the sake of posting, so when I do take the time to sit down and write (type), I feel like there is a reason behind it whether its to preserve a memory, act as a form of therapy, share information, or to just tell a funny story.

3 Cheers for 11 years!

Today marks my 11th Anniversary of me living in New York City. Wooooooot. Seriously, eleven years here. It's amazing to me that I have lived here this long and NYC is the place I now call my home. This is especially crazy when I still get moments, quite often actually, where I have to pinch myself because I feel so lucky and grateful to live here.

I officially became a New Yorker last year when I hit the ten year mark. Even though I caught on pretty quickly on how to survive and succeed here, myself of any of my family members expected me to still be out here after all this time. But, I love this city. The architecture. The food. The opportunities. The pace. The energy. There is just something special about New York. Some people can't handle it, but I think I thrive on it and feed off it. It just suits me. As much as I love Chicago and my family there, New York has a hold on me and a very special place in my heart.

Sunrise Sensations

I am a morning person. My alarm goes off and I pop out of bed ready to take on the day ahead of me. I do my workouts early in the morning before work starts and its the best way to start my day. I find that on days that I don't workout, I am actually not as awake and personable as my usual charming self. I need those morning endorphins to get me going. I really believe they make me a better person.

Running has allowed me to explore places of this city, and others that I wouldn't necessarily have gotten to see. Whenever I am on vacation I like to go for my morning runs and explore places (with map and phone in hand) that I may not have a chance to see otherwise. I feel that I have gotten to see so much more of some cities, especially on my Europe vacation and even last summer to the Pacific Northwest, because of my passion for running.

Holiday Happiness

Winter break is just around the corner and I for one, cannot wait. I need a break. I big one. I need to just lay around in my pajamas and not do anything for a few days.  (Or at least have the option to do that since I can't really do that for too long because I get antsy.) It's been a crazy few weeks with the holidays coming and basketball season in full swing now. It's been pretty great though as my team is now 5-0 and hopefully will remain unbeaten going into winter break. Fingers crossed.

Anyway, I have been trying to enjoy holiday time in New York as much as I can with everything else going on. It's one of the best times of the year here. (I feel like I say that about every time of year though.)  I love the changing seasons here and taking advantage of what the city has to offer. When my parents were here for Thanksgiving we obviously watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade which is always super fun. It was both their first times seeing it and I loved watching them watching it. Well, my mom at least since my dad wasn't so into it. It's okay, it totally wasn't his thing but he was a trooper. While they were here, we also looked at the holiday windows a bit and went to see the beginning of the set-up of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. It was a mob-scene even though the tree hadn't even been lit yet, but there were tons of tourists there to see what it was anyway and to ice-skate on the rink. Needless to say, it was C-R-O-W-D-E-D. Not so much my scene. I think in my first year in New York City I went to see the Christmas tree after it was lit and it was so crowded and unenjoyable, I hadn't gone back.

Also, I remember being totally underwhelmed by it as well. Needless to say, I was in no rush to go back. But after going with my parents, I realized I did want to see it again when it was all pretty and lit up. I had let enough time go without going to see it, so the time was now. But how would I do it without having to deal with the crowds?!? Then came my brilliant idea: I would run there. Yes, a destination run to Rockefeller Plaza! I would run there in the morning while its still dark out and get a glimpse of that beautiful tree.

New York 26.2: A Recap

Two marathons in three weeks! Chicago and New York. Numbers 8 and 9. I can finally take a sigh of relief and give my body a rest. And perhaps chill with all the crying too. Yikes. As I lay here in bed with sore legs and a full heart, I think I can actually say that I am proud of myself. This is quite different than the feelings I was having three weeks ago after the Chicago marathon when I was a big ball of disappointment. Sure, I ran this race slower than Chicago, but I wasn't running this race for me and wasn't concerned about getting a PR. I was running this race for a fantastic cause (Team IBDKids), wanted to enjoy the ride, and really just wanted to finish it (in under five hours). And that I did with a time of 4:42:50. I'll take it because once again, it wasn't an easy road to the finish line and I am just so happy to be healthy enough to make it there once again.

New decor, New beginnings?

I've lived in my apartment, solo, for the last seven years. In those seven years since moving in, I haven't done anything new to it. It's pretty much the same exact apartment that I created when I first got here and I love it, but it's time to change it up a bit. Don't get me wrong, I love my apartment, I love living by myself, and I would never live with anyone again, unless its a boyfriend and/or husband. Thirty-two with a roommate in New York is a red flag for me. At this age, a single someone should be financially stable enough to be living alone. And although I do get lonely a lot, I still love the fact that this apartment is mine...and all mine!

With the summer ending and some self-realization, I decided I want to make some changes to my apartment. (And my mind and body. Always a work in progress.) I want my 350-square foot apartment (don't laugh! That's NYC for you. And don't even ask what I pay for that either!) to be a little more grown up. With my budget, I will see what I can do, but I'm hoping that with some little changes here and there in the apartment, it will also spur some changes in my life. At the very least, it will make me happier to come home to my place after a long day and relish in it. I'm kind of bored with it and I have at least two more years in it, so it's time for a little change. And for someone who doesn't like change, I'm excited to do this!!  (Hey, if Carol Radziwill can do it, so can I. Although she does have a lot more space, and a lot more money.)

I CAN Make it Anywhere!

Well, it's finally happened...I'm officially a New Yorker. Today is the ten year anniversary of my big move to New York City. If I can make it here, I can make it anywhere, right? Well, I've made it suckas. Not that there was ever any doubt in my mind.

But really, this anniversary is a huge deal to me. Huge. Ten years is a long freaking time in a place where I was planning to just stay one year. A place I pretty much came to on a whim. A city where I knew no one and had only been to one time prior. It was a giant leap of faith that I took and sometimes I still have to pinch myself to believe I really did it and have been here ever since. It was one of the wisest decisions of my life and I couldn't be happier with my choice.

Almost a New Yorker!

I have lived in New York City for nine and three quarter years now. (Can you believe it? Who would've thought!!)  I am about three months away from hitting my ten year anniversary, therefore making me a New Yorker. Don't you know once you live here for ten years, its official?! Heck, maybe I will even have a party for myself. If I can make it here, I can make it anywhere, right? That's the age old saying, isn't it? Well, NYC, our relationship has had some bumps and bruises along the way, but you know I heart you.

Having lived here for so long, I have picked up on the many wacky and outrageous nuances this city offers. (But not a lot of the lingo. (Never!) Sorry, but pop, gym shoes, and waiting IN line are here to stay.) There is so much to be thankful for and to love in this great metropolis and I feel lucky quite often for living here and getting to experience it all. Sometimes I will catch myself in a moment here (running parallel to the statue of liberty, a big snowstorm and seeing the beauty of Central Park, etc...) and have to pinch myself and ask "Do I seriously live in New York?" It's that good.

Where Are All the Cute Men At, Yo?

The other day I was looking for a new book to read in my school's library. Then I saw it, with it's hot pink cover and some silver sparkle...It just kind of stood out to me. The name of the book...ready for it? How to Meet Cute Guys. Of course this is the book that caught my attention right away. Nothing like a little young adult novel (yes a novel, not a self-help book) to spark my interest on a topic I apparently need help with. I decided to pass on checking it out; however, I did skim it. I'm human after all. 

 Later in the day, I was talking about this book with my friends joking that I was going to take it home and read it cover to cover and we were joking around that unless cute guys are coming right to our doors (which they aren't), we aren't meeting them. This got me thinking, where can us girls meet some cute guys in this freaking city? I mean, seriously!! 

What NOT to do on the Subway

I wrote about subway etiquette about two years ago on this blog and its a topic of conversation often between myself and my friends. Because we ride the subway so frequently we see lot of very rude and inconsiderate people doing ridiculous (and sometimes very gross things.) This past weekend, I saw something on the train that I have thankfully never seen before, but was horrifying. Of course I felt the need to write about it. It's also posted on Jones and B. Enjoy!

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I’ve lived in New York for nine years now and have seen my fair share of weird and gross things happening on the subway. I’ve seen someone walk in, take a piss, and walk out. I’ve seen a child lick a subway pole up and down. I’ve seen someone light up a joint. I've seen someone projectile vomit. You get it, I've seen some nasty stuff. However, my ride Friday night on the uptown 6 train had to take the cake of the most horrifying subway sight I’ve seen. My family was in town and we were heading back home from dinner downtown. We all got on the train at Bleecker Street and then around 33^rd street, a guy got on the train on his motor scooter. He appeared to be homeless based on his clothing and apparent lack of personal hygiene. He then covered his lap and his arms with his jacket and his right arm began pumping. Yup, this dude started jacking off on his scooter while on the train. My dad and I looked at each other with wide shocked eyes. No words needed to be exchanged. We simply couldn’t believe what we were witnessing. We looked around to see if anyone else was seeing what we thought we were seeing, and based on some of the other people’s facial expressions they most certainly were. This guy was clearly masturbating. Holy shit. It was like a solar eclipse in the sense where you shouldn’t stare, but you can’t look away. Besides my dad and I, there seemed to be about another ten or so other people that knew exactly what was going on and we were all exchanging glances and mouthing words to each other. Was this for real? Um, yes. Yes, it was.

What's the answer?

With the first semester of my eighth year of teaching wrapped up and second semester under way, I am elated to be more than halfway done with one of the most frustrating years of my teaching career. It's one of those years where I constantly question if I am in the right place for me. I do love teaching, and I do believe I am good at it, but damn if the system makes it hard for teachers to stick with this career without becoming discouraged. I go through phases of really loving my job interspersed with being beyond frustrated, and this year the bad has outweighed the good. I haven't been this irritated with work in about three years.

I am an NYC public high school teacher at a school in what would be considered to be an "inner city neighborhood" with students coming from low-income homes. My kids have faced struggles I couldn't even fathom and they experience things on a daily basis that I can't imagine going through, but that doesn't mean that they have to fail in life. Not by a long shot. For some of them, the odds have been stacked against them for a long time, but if they take advantage of what's in front of them, they can succeed. But they can't do it all alone. They, themselves have to want it, and their family, their teachers, and the school system have to be behind them. Unfortunately, from what I see year after year, that is just not happening.

A Nice Little Sunday

I know many of you read this blog for my wit, my wisdom, and my random observations. AmIright? And of course, sometimes you even read for the daily minutiae of my life. Well, today, this post is about just that. In fact, its about yesterday. My nice little Sunday.

Sunday is supposed to be a day of rest. More often than not, I use it just as that. Sometimes I will sit in my pj's all day watching TV, shower in the late afternoon only to put on a new pair of pj's. Those kind of Sunday's are awesome. Sometimes I will run errands all day and be super productive, but that's just exhausting for my last day before work starts up again. (And frankly, that's what Saturdays are for.) Other times, I will have a nice mix of relaxing and getting shit done. But not yesterday. This was a super-active one. And it was superb.

Since yesterday was such a fantastic Sunday, I felt the need to share. Naturally. I knew it was going to be a busy one so of course I planned to get plenty of rest as is par for the course for me. Of course I didn't sleep in, because I am old and if I sleep past 8 its a miracle, but I digress. This Sunday wasn't great because it had the makings of a typical NYC Sunday of boozy brunch and walking around, but it had activities. And I love "doing things." And yesterday I did three things that really made my day complete and were just so much damn fun. They were as follows...

I'll keep it to myself

There are a lot of things that cross my crazy mind day in and day out. Most of them I either keep to myself because they are beyond ridiculous and silly, while others are plain mean. I can't help it that these things come across my brain. (Most of these things seem to occur to me while on the train. Shocking, right?) I don't want to hurt someone's feelings or get jacked in the face if I say these things out loud so I keep my mouth shut. I would never think of saying them directly to the person. My judgemental tendencies can often be a little embarrassing so I just refrain from speaking. I am not proud of it, but it happens.

While I am a very open book a majority of the time either with my words (or my facial expressions), I do have a filter and know what is and is not appropriate to say. Most of the time. Somethings are just better left unsaid. So with that actually being said, here are some things that people (hopefully not just me) think but don't say out loud...

1. Invest in some Spanx. There are many woman that wear unflattering clothes for their body type. And it doesn't necessarily have to be that way. Their clothes might be too tight or just not fit well because of bulges or other imperfections which are all totally normal. We are human and don't all have the body of Victoria Secret models, but we can damn well still look good in a tight dress if we want to. One way to solve part of this problem is for the woman to get some Spanx.  Spanx are magic. Invest in some. They will suck you in where you need to be sucked in and even you out and make you look a few pounds thinner. Trust me, I own quite a few pairs.