A Very Long Awaited Update

Hi there,
Most of you haven't heard from me since December, some even longer than that, so I thought I'd make use of this long neglected server space and let all of you know what's been going on. When last I posted I was still living on Dane's couch. Well, since then I've spent nights in the park, on the trains, with a couple of friends, with the now ex-girlfriend, and eventually landed in a hostel. It's the largest hostel in the USA in fact. I started in their work exchange program in October. Honestly, this whole thing probably would have been impossible. I was working in the coffee bar of Jazz on the Park Hostel for a few months, and a little while back was moved into the position of events coordinator. Essentially the job entails getting people from all over the world together and making sure they have a good time. I can't really thing of a more perfect occupation for a guy like me. The only draw backs to this whole thing are that 1) I don't actually make any money. I just get a "free" place to stay. 2) I live in a room with 3 other guys that always smells like 4 guys live in it. 3) The management of the particular hostel I live in is absolutely ridiculous. However, I have since Xmas managed to get a couple of jobs that I not only love but are making me quite a bit more money. I get the feeling that within the next couple of weeks I will be able to move OUT of the hostel and into a place where if the room smells it's entirely my fault.

I must say that 2008 was a miserable year. It seems like left and right things were falling apart, and I couldn't seem to make sense of any of it. The only good things that came out of that year were some good times with Katherine, Rachael, Roscoe and a few others (I believe those of you from Ireland, Australia, and Cornwall know who you are), and the move to NYC. For a while, the NYC move seemed like a tremendous mistake. I was literally starving and living on the streets for a while. I would have days when escape seemed like the only sensible option. I have pushed through, and toward the end of 2008 things were not great but certainly looking up. I was home for Xmas for about a week, and as my return to NYC drew closer I was filled with both dread and hope in looking forward to the work that I knew was waiting for me back in the frozen city.

So far, 2009 has been amazing. I arrived back in the city with a new resolve and motivation to improve my situation as quickly as possible. First things first, Katherine and I finally decided to stop the on-again/0ff-again ridiculousness of our relationship. We broke things off completely, finally, and for the best for both. I hit the job hunt harder than ever, and in a very short time managed to land 2 positions that are proving not only lucrative but also fulfilling and challenging. The day job is with a company called Dialogue Direct. We do fund raising for the charity Children International. It pays well, I work with some amazing people, in a couple of months I get full benefits, and on top of it all I absolutely love the work. It is probably the most difficult work that I've ever done, but it is also the most rewarding. Knowing that I am actually making very positive changes in the lives of people who really need my help has made me able to do things for this job that I never would have attempted for others. My night job is still with Jazz planning events, but I have managed to expand it into a staff position at a night club called Pacha which is one of the largest night club management teams in the world, and connections with several bars and clubs in the city. As a result of my new connections, I have decided to put together my own night life promotions and events planning team. I have a few people already on board to get the company off of the ground. Now, it's just a matter of putting in the foot work to make more connections. Hopefully, in 6 months to a year I won't need a day job.

I have come to love New York. For a long time I had a longing to be in Alabama. I miss my family. I miss the weather. I had a very easy life in AL, and when things were more difficult here I was having a hard time justifying this move. Luckily, I am just stubborn and spitefull enough to think that if the city was going to put me through so much misery then I was not leaving until I got something good in return. My stubbornness is finally paying off. I love walking through the park and riding the trains. I love all of the languages and meeting new people every day. The city is intense in every way. The only thing that I still miss about Alabama is my family. I don't think most people realize how close I am to my family and how difficult it is to be away from them. We talk on the phone pretty frequently, but I still wish that I could make my weekly trip to my parents' house for family dinner. I miss sitting around the table and talking with all of them. Now that I'm making money I hope to be making frequent trips back, but the city has become home now. I am finally happy here.

The good news it that I have nothing but good news. To say the least, things are looking up. I hope that the next time I update this blog I will be doing so from my own computer in my own place and not from the front desk of the hostel. There are many of you that I miss dearly. Come visit me. As soon as I'm out of this place you will most definitely have a couch/floor/bed to crash on.