**Gobble Gobble**

Tip of the day:

• If it's cold outside, lets say 20 degrees, do not decide to leave your scarf and ear muffs inside your car over night. This will result in putting on cold ear muffs over your cold ears and a cold scarf around your chilled face when coming out of the house into the car to work. Then, you'll have to wait for the ear muffs and scarf to warm up on your way to the train with your own body heat, which eventually happens so if you really have to then leave them in the car. But to save some time, just bring them inside with you.

Is it weird that when I was walking from Penn Station to work this morning I kept singing, "It's the most wonderful time of the year"? Three days before Thanksgiving and they have already started decorating for Christmas!! So I guess with the cold weather and the holiday decorations, I am so ready for Christmas! It is exciting! Last week, TCM played Miracle on 34th Street outside in front of the Macy's on 34th and 6th ave. They were selling hot cocoa and placed chairs and couches for people to sit on while watching the big screen that they set up. I love that movie. It is a classic in my house! Too bad I wasn't able to sit and watch but I am glad I got a sneak peak!


To continue with my previous post, which was a while ago (sorry for not keeping up with my blog lately), I am still looking for an apartment/a place to live. I have been traveling from work to Queens back to Penn Station to Jersey and back to work the next day all by train mostly or bus for the last few weeks.  I was and still am going back and forth. I found a few but there was a particular studio I was so set on renting but found out that there were guarantor issues. So, when that apartment fell through, luckily another one came up. I should find out today if I am approved for this apartment. I was having a lot of difficulty trying to be approved for any apartment for many reasons.

1. My license says I am from Florida. They would rather have a resident from New York or New Jersey 
2. I don't earn enough income for the rent. In that case, I would need a guarantor. If they allow guarantors then they have certain requirements for them. In case you were unsure, a guarantor, (To this day I still cannot spell the word 'guarantors' correctly without spell check), is someone who agrees to pay the rent IF the tenant is unable to pay for themselves. JUST IN CASE. Usually the requirements are:
1. Must be from the tri-state area (NY, NJ CT).
2. Make over 80k a year (some ask for more)
3. Have a credit score over 700 (even if mine already is)
   -One place told me the guarantor had very strict requirements. For example, they couldn't have a mortgage which is ridiculous!! Who doesn't have a mortgage!?!? If you live in a house then most likely you have a mortgage. So I had to either ask a family member who didn't have a mortgage or just look for another apartment. I decided to look for another apartment. The other requirements for this apartment were pretty ridiculous.

It's most likely taking longer than normal to find an apartment because I need a guarantor. It is nerve racking especially when apartments are being sold so quickly!! I hope to find out soon for this apartment or else I'll be lucky to stay at my family-friends home in Long Island.


I cannot wait for Macy's annual Thanksgiving Day Parade!!! That is also a classic in my house and this year I am in New York so I have already seen them setting up a little bit right in front of Macy's!!! It's so exciting!! I hope that I will be able to see the hot air balloons that fly through the city during the parade when looking at the skyline, from afar of course. Mostly New Yorkers stay far away from the city on this day. It is a mad house!! Even when I was living in New Jersey with my family, the thought of going into the city for Thanksgiving NEVER entered our minds.

So don't forget this Thursday on NBC from 9am to 12pm watch the parade! And of course following the parade is The National Dog Show!! Then, of course, the festivities can begin!! So eat your heart out! But it is of course a time to be thankful. I am very thankful for my family and friends who have been helping me through this crazy transition in my life of moving far away from family and friends to start a new journey!!!! It has been a great ride.


Randy (dad)
Rosemary (mom)
Steve, Sophia, Lillie (siblings)
Rob(Guarantor/ friends with my family from before I was born)
Matt and his family (cousin who basically let me LIVE with them for the past few months)
Priscilla
Thomas
Tyler
David
Michelle
Friends from back at school who are supportive of me and my choice to move here
Aunt Maria and family (cousins)
Molly (and her family for always letting me stay over anytime!!)
Jenny (co-worker/awesome friend!)
Katie (co-worker/awesome friend!)
Other co-workers
Uncle Peter, Uncle Andrew and Uncle Michael who are always keeping in touch and meet for dinner (yum)
Johnny Boy who went to check out apartments I was interested in to confirm how safe the area looked (so nice)
And of course my church back home and here.
Others I have forgotten because I have really gotten so much support and guidance since graduating in May.

Jesus, Mary, and the power of prayer that has helped me, and continues to help me through it all the most.

Have a great holiday!
xoxo

**gobble gobble**