Glittery Skylines, Subways and Press Releases

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February 10, 2010

Snow Flurries, Little Beans & Inklings of Courage

(New York, NY) —I had yet to experience a day like this in NYC. The streets, once occupied with a plethora of fast-walking executives, deli workers, scenesters, tourists and shoppers, are now vacant. There’s no pushing or shoving or fighting to squeeze into the subway terminals but there is still an unlimited array of submarine yellow taxis weeving in and out fighting to the death just to pick up that one person that surrendered to the cold and decided to quit walking. The constant blare of honking has come to an arrest and the grinding sound of construction has reached a standstill-for the time being.

There’s something to be said about this beautiful, yet miserable, disaster of a blizzard occurring in NY. It forces the fleeting-quick nature of New York to slow down, stop and take a second. It is the perfect blend of a warm, comfy goose-down bed, an acoustic Jimi Hendrix whispering through my speakers and seeing miniature pearly-white fuzz balls cascade graciously to the ground. I feel like God, Slash, RuPaul and GaGa have all gotten together in some hyper-glitter-powered VIP room in outer space and decided to show me a cute little music video outside of my window in the form of petite snow flurries dancing and falling perfectly to the pleasant harmonies playing from my iTunes.

“I’m watching the news and it’s supposed to snow bad in new york erika, you NEED to go buy some bread and cucumbers before the snowstorm.”

-My own mother.

UM, WHAT. First of all, I don’t even know how to rationalize her thought process or how to even begin making fun of this. The thing about my mother is that, she is quite possibly the weirdest, yet most genuine mother a person could ask for. I know we all say that about our moms, as we should, but I bet when you Skype your mom she doesn’t repeatedly tap on the computer monitor and ask if the sound is coming from a satellite that you bought in outer space- and if it is, then how much was it and did you make sure to charge it on credit and not debit. I bet your mother knows that DKNY fashions stand for Donna Karen New York and not “DEEK-NYYE”- some Asian designer in Korea that distributes to Dillard’s.

My mom is, by definition, the Immigrant American dream. Poverty stricken and determined to help out her parents and 7 brothers and sisters, my mom at the age of 11, moved to the United States. She started off as a maid and made $20 a month; she sent half of everything she made -no matter how small the amount- to her family in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. She wanted to become a citizen, get an education, learn medicine and be brilliant in cardiology: and in the end, that’s what she did.

Any of my friends will tell you, shes the kookiest and cutest lady ever that blurts out unnecessary medical facts at the most awkward times. Like the time my friend came over for dinner and my mom randomly mentioned to her, that she should sit on a towel when she drives in the blistering Texas heat because the moisture caused between the heat and her leather seat will cause a yeast infection or a urinary tract infection.

Of course no 10 degree, 12-inch deep New York snow blizzard would be complete without my mother furiously glued to FOX News in Austin, TX and calling me in 50 minute incrimates to tell me about how yes, it is still snowing in new york.

“You’re gonna be a hungry Chilly Willy up there! Did you go buy some bread and bananas like I told you? Erika, make sure to eat, please. If you don’t have a lot to eat why don’t you eat like that Jewish man in that movie? You know, the guy in the Holocaust. Ah, what is that movie called I can’t remember. He ate one little bean a day. That’s what you need to do mija (daughter), just eat one little frijolito (tiny bean) to keep yourself warm like that man.”

-Mama Fierce

Thank you for alluding to the Holocaust when describing my New York experience.Oh, and the movie she is referring to is The Pianist. At this point…I don’t even know what to say.

This past Sunday I briefly mentioned the XEX Magazine Release party that I went to in order to network. I will say it was definitely a big step in developing my courage. I went by myself and went knowing absolutely no one. As I held my breath and squeezed myself into some tight jeans, I knew that I would have to force my swagger to skyrocket itself to an inhumane level of 142%.  I consider myself incredibly extroverted and my dad always tells me that I can start a conversation with a tree trunk on the side of the street, but I was still awfully nervous and terrified. I had never gone to an event, party, bar or anything by myself. When I walked in it was like a high school dance with everyone sitting at their private tables laughing hysterically with all of their friends and co-workers. I repressed my negative thoughts and told myself that I better make friends/network or get a couple job opportunities here or else I would have just wasted .2 ounces of my MAC foundation, four brush dips of MAC Fluidline eyeliner, 61 pounds of hairspray, and not to mention a waste of a shower. The nerves subsided, the charming commenced and hopefully some possible freelance writing opportunities will come out of the contacts I made. Networking parties are way more effective than emails: when 2-4-1 drink specials are involved!

(PS: PH2H): It’s very hard when you don’t have the security of going out with your best friends. You know, that whole thing of “oh lets go out and be cute because we are fun and we’ll throw sequins and rhinestones in the sky and completely WORK THE ROOM.” The thing with that is, even if you and your friends went to an awkward epic fail of a party or bar, you at least feel comfortable because they are there, holding your hand and making fierce poses with you in pictures (which will undeniably be uploaded on Facebook that same morning) every step of the way. Going to my first NY networking party made me realize that if I’m gonna do more of these I have to SHAN-TAY right up in that room and completely own it, bring it, kill it every. single. time. I’m in NY to do one thing: to get what’s mine. A successful publicist, hilarious blogger, eloquent feature writer, etc… Moving from Texas made some friendships incredibly tougher and disintegrated a few. I have another one that is currently dissolving and I hope to salvage it if it’s mutual. I think it’s that time in my life where the cliche movie summary begins to read: “Southern Girl moves to a big city for her career. Leaving all that she knew, she must learn to come into her own, stand/fend for herself and desperately find a delicious, cheap Mexican food restaurant in the process.”

#From me to you (mostly to me): Be cute, yet tough. Don’t be afraid to be alone. Try not to let disputes or your over-analytic thoughts drown you. You are your priority. True best friends and family will stay, the opportunities you get to transform your dream into reality- will not.

Eating One Little Bean A Day in NYC,

-erika

listening to: “Little Wing” by Jimi Hendrix

location: my apt on W34th

sitting: on what serves as my chair/loveseat/sofa/barstool/table and recliner (for the time being): my bed.

feeling: tempted to straight up brave the cold weather and spend my $10 on a pizza.

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