Today started out a little off. Well, I was off. I was getting ready to catch the bus and realized I had one minute to go so I rushed down the stairs closing and locking all doors as I went. As I stepped on the porch I saw the bus pass by my hand we're still on the doorknob. I heard the door lock. I turn to open the door and realize someone locked it and walked away so I rang the doorbell nothing happened. I'll running the top doorbell and the bottom doorbell no one came to the door. I knocked on the door, no one came to the door. So I called Sonya the landlady and she didn't answer her phone. so I rang the doorbell constantly. It wasn't until I peeked through her front window that she decided to come answer the door. It took 5 minutes for me to get back in the house but I was cold and it felt like forever. Realizing that I left my keys didn't make me feel any better. The reason I was rushing out of the house was because I was in total elation about seeing Gerald and his mom Sam again today. Today was the day I would finally get a tour with them. We met at Port Authority by the Jackie Gleason statue. From there we rode the Big Tour Bus. We took the lower Manhattan tour. I wasn't too happy about sitting at the top of the bus because I saw snowflakes as I entered the train station earlier. Mind you, it is much warmer where I live than Manhattan. But I did want to get the full experience of the tour so I sucked it up and set up front like Sam told me to. This particular tour bus burgundy and yellow, I I kinda liked the colors. The tour bus covered everything from Times Square to the World Trade Center, to the fashion district. The funny part about the tour was every area we covered was an area I had previously gotten lost in since I had been here. All this time I've been in and out of historical places in areas and had no idea half the time. Smh. After we finish the tour we were treated to lunch by Sam at TGI Fridays!
  The prices are so high I almost didn't order. Almost But I didn't have to pay. Lol. We were good and full and ready for the next part of my tour which fortunately involved walking. By the time we left I could feel my toes and fingers again and stay tightly wrapped in my jacket, scarf, turtleneck  sweater, sweat pants, jeans and sneakers. Gerald made fun of me because he had taken off his coat and was warm and so was Sam. I told them "I'm a summer baby I don't do cold". Sam even bought a sangria to keep us warm. I added a hot chocolate in case that didn't work.  I had no idea how close the Rockefeller Center was to Times Square. The walk took no time and we could see the lights on all the trees from three blocks up. Walking through the area NBC was open to the public and I didn't know that. There's a lot of shops and food there we even passed the Rainbow Room. By then I'm cold again but I don't care. The moment we headed to the ice skating rink my mouth dropped again. I really love light! There were angels and Greek statues in gold engraved on the walls! I even saw the tree that would be lit for Christmas but it wasn't decorated yet. The amount of people out today was maddening. I know it will be worse by Christmas but I will try to brave it all. I was so excited I wanted to take pictures by everything! We even walked by Saks Fifth Avenue to look at the windows! Their windows were so beautiful and I wasn't prepared for the light show that started playing as we walked away! I couldn't get my phone out fast enough because I was too busy staring like a little child pretty lights. I'm such a kid. We also stopped at St. Patrick's Cathedral. It was so beautiful from the outside I almost cried. Everything about it architectual a perfect. It was old and out of place yet perfectly sculpted. Inside was equally beautiful except all the scaffolding from the renovations and the people who got in my way and the kids who also got in my way. You could almost feel the history of the place. I felt an energy, my teeth were buzzing. It was strange. I only felt it as I near the back of the cathedral. On our way out of the building I saw the statue of Atlas! We walked all the way back to the Port Authority station from there. I have been waiting on a tour with these people for years and it finally happened! This was my Thanksgiving.
As usual this app is giving me grief with uploading pictures but I will find a way to post them.
http://www.saintpatrickscathedral.org/

I've been in training for the new job for over a week now. Nothing but me getting lost,  struggling to stay away in a hot classroom and running home to go back to sleep. Two days ago I got the best surprise though!  Gerald and his mom Sam came to NY!  They came to be with family for the holidays but I got squeezed in! I must say that when Gerald told me to meet him I was in tears. He tried to surprise me by telling me he had set up a tour for me with someone in his family. He gave it away when he told her to say hi to me, it was his mom. LOL I put two and 2 together. 
We met up after my training was over and they treated me to dinner. I love to eat! I was all smiles all the way back home. Yesterday morning I had to take another test for work but I managed to squeeze in a breakfast with them first.  This was what I really needed. I didn't realize how starved for family I was.
  Today is Thanksgiving and I'm cooking for myself and watching everyone on Facebook post food and family.  I did good as far as my meal is concerned.  I made apple potato salad,  potato soufflé,  asparagus with mushrooms and garlic cloves, corn on the cob and reheated baked lemon pepper chicken. It was good. Would have tasted better with a side of company. Ahkeem my roommate was in and out but headed to be with his people.  The landlady Sonya had been cooking all night and has he family over. The only reason I even saw her today was because she stored food in our fridge and because our shower was leaking into her bathroom.  LOL. How can she be irritated at Us?  How were we to know that if the sliding doors were on the wrong side she would get rained on? Oh well.  Once it was fixed she offered to bring me a plate.  I don't trust it. That was an hour ago so I don't think she meant it anyway.  This is really a silent night.
  I should have let Ahkeem lend me his TV like he asked when he first moved in. I could go out see the lights that I'm sure are up but I'm in no mood yo battle crowds and cold weather. I'm too full and dehydrated to cry.  Today,  I don't want to be alone.

Life has been mundane and boring up until today. I was so happy to have gotten some donations over the last two weeks. The nee amp not working has crippled my hustle game. I'm thinking about going it solo on the trains till its replaced. Idk why I'm so hesitant. Today I put all that aside.

  I Wasn't able to get the audition in But Mr. Faison was cool enough to let me come to the show! It's actually an old firehouse!  The cutest theater! I know Phaidra of Infinite Arts back in Atlanta would flip to use this stage!  Although this is the matinee, seats are filling up pretty fast. A lot of the patrons are older. I get the feeling that these people know there stuff when it comes to good work. I've never seen "Ain't Misbehavin " live or even since I was a kid, watching it on TV. The air here is vibrant with excitement and chatter as we wait.
UPDATE!
As Mr. Faison opened the show he introduced me! OMGS He even told me to stand up and sing a quick song. I was in shock but opened my mouth.  And what comes out? The title song. I sung the first verse of "Ain't Misbehavin " and immediately received applause.  After I sat down I felt like a total fool. Of all songs, that came out of my mouth?  I really felt that was in poor taste on y account.  I thought I was prepared to sing just in case he asked but not like that. I even brought my songbook for belters. I didn't let on that I was mad at myself but I was punching myself mentally. He also introduced his very special guest and friend, Dionne Warwick!

  Maybe that's why I was so thrown off. I've got to get the star struck thing under control. I didn't want to approach her because many people were.  I knew she was there to enjoy herself so I figured I would try to get in a picture with her after the show. Cab you say AMAZBALLS!  The show was on a small set but if felt larger than life!  The 5 singers who's names I MUST learn were some real show stoppers!  I couldn't help but applaud loudly at each song. I want that stage. I need it.

I've been getting up all week before the butt Crack of dawn (3am)  to be in training at 6. The course is a week long and testable. Super boring stuff security.  And outside too?  Another thing I do not want to do but oh well. Do what I gotta do right?
  Mr. Faison told me last weekend to be looking for his call and life must go on.  Im having a hard time getting the right clothes for this weather on this budget.  Where so I shop? Who has my size?! Shit!  What size AM I? I am truly a Sponge Bob body now (like grandma jokingly called me)!  I think my thighs are a size 14 now. I have however come down to a 2x up top from a 3! Slowly but surely I'm gonna be stripper fine! lol Things are looking up!
As I'm leaving training for the day I get a call while I'm on the bus. It's Jackie from AMDA! IM IN! IM IN!  IM IN! I've been accepted for the spring semester! She hit me with a whammy and told me I need to drop $500 to secure my spot and but IM IN! if only I haven't been out of work again I would have it.

This app is being a pain again so I can't post any pictures.  Smh.  While I'm waiting on word from so many areas I've been hitting the streets with my new equipment.  My solo venture to Times Square and back to 14st Station hasn't yielded the same ends as before.  I have been having sound issues like crazy.  I thought the equipment may have been in n damaged in the mail but I was wrong.  I bought a cheap AUX cord to go from my phone to the amp. It's already shorted out. Luckily I bought 2! I know I'm on borrowed time with that one too. As soon as I can I need to collect more cash for a quality cord.
MEAN WHILE IN NON MUSIC LAND
MY new job got canceled.  I'm still with the company but the contract has changed so I have to be placed somewhere else. I was told not to worry about the security licence at first. I shouldn't have listened.  Now I need it.  There was a huge miscommunication with me and the hiring manager at the office.  She gave me a paper and told me to go there for the new position but what she failed to say was that I was being interviewed for the position.  I thought maybe I was taking a picture for a new ID or getting new uniform.  I was so wrong. I'm wearing black jeans, a  black fleece my beat up walking shoes and colorful socks.  Not even close to professional.  To top off my looks,  I was late by an hour and a half. I got off the bus too early. I got something to eat and missed the next bus. Once I got to the next station I had to use the restroom and missed the other bus! She made it very clear that she didn't believe me about the mix up and tried to tear me apart about my attire. I had sincerely apologized already but at this point she was being a bitch because she felt she could.  She said "I don't want to hire you but you're getting in because he does". The he was the other manager in the room. I heard them discussing my situation while she had me wait outside her office. I'm in though. I have to wait until I do my federal background check which will cost me $30 (I was trying to sing it up) in the morning.   Needless to say that leaving the situation left me out of sorts. I couldn't find my way to my next destination to save my food stamps. Oh, my renewal was scheduled for yesterday which was voting day so it was closed. I spent an hour getting on train after train going in circles.  I can't blame GPS this time.  It was all me and the map. I spent way too long under Queens today. I need a hug.

I woke up shining on the inside! No loud noises or shouts of idiots or even a loud TV to wake me.  I got up on my own time and it feels great! Since I'm the first one to move into this apartment I'm gonna enjoy every piece of silence while I can.  Someone else is coming today to look at the other rooms. I have some domestic errands to run also but after that I'm gonna hit up a subway station  and see how much I can make. It's far too cold to be outside singing. 
UPDATE
I got lost. Go figure l, right?  lol I wanted to see the area so I got on a bus but it headed in the wrong direction.  I'm so close to the airport!  When I came back I found a lots of discounts at one store. Lefferts has everything!  I got lost on the way back. Had to walk 11 blocks back because I got on the wrong bus AGAIN!  LOL Got good Intel though.  I like this place. I'm happy.

Yesterday (Friday)  I received my first paycheck!  I do not care for bills but it's nice to pay one. (how ever late) I was in desperate need of socks. I went to Modells near Fulton street to but boots and socks. I didn't see the boots I needed but I was so happy to have socks. I only bought one pair because I know I had so much more to do. I stopped at a local bar near the shelter to get a burger and fries and map out my plans for Saturday.
  After two failed attempts at finding one with available outlets to charge my phone I ran into a small bar on Jackson Blvd. Mind you, I worked 12 hours with only 3 breaks and none of them were over 30 minutes.  I still stretched out my usual turkey sandwich on a roll, cheetos, 2 granola bars  and water for my meal of the day. I was ravenous when I looked at the menu.  I don't think clearly when I'm that hungry. I only saw soups, beers and appetizers.  I orders cheese fries and fish tacos.  The fries were ok but it was a small portion. It had a light sprinkling of cheese but was topped with a nice Pico de Galo sauce.  (spelled right?) The 3 fish tacos were ok. Mine are better. Theirs could have used a sauce or at least sour cream. It wasn't until I finished eating and asked to see the menu again that I noticed that there was a back end. lol  I hadn't even thought to flip the damn thing over.  I just went for the first things I saw.  I was barely satisfied but decidec I could live with it.  Upon checking into the shelter for the night I informed the manager to that I would need boxes to move. 3 hours later I had to have security radio her because I hadn't received them yet. (so irritated).  I lightly packed some bags and went to bed.
SATURDAY
Moving day! I am now living in a room  a totally different part of Queens! Did little crap happen to piss me off before I left? Yes. Didnt care though. IM LEAVING THESE BITCHES! I was promised linen for my new bed and bed bug covers by the housing coordinator manager but I only got half of that. I got a sheets for a twin bed but it's a full size. The blanket they gave me is worse than the ones the issue,  it's thin enough that light goes through it and I didn't get the bed bug covers.  That last part irritated my landlord since she specifically asked that I have that.  We made it work. I took the mattress cover off of the bed in the empty room and fit the bed almost halfway with sheets. lol It looks a mess. lol but im safe and warm. I spent too much money for the little food stuffs that I bought. At breast my food stamps kick back in next couple of days. I will definitely run out of this little stuff by then. I am SHELTER FREE!!!!!! I WOULD add pics but Weebly is tripping.