5 Years and Counting...

This year will be my five year anniversary as a starving actor/waitress/administrative assistant in New York. The biggest lesson I've learned is that I know nothing, but seeing as how this blog was originally supposed to be "thoughts from a southern girl in New York"... I feel that I should share some things that I (am still learning) have been forced to learn.

Humility- It seems that some people never have to learn this. I guess they are the lucky few who are handed their dreams (or highly successful jobs) and never have to be at the bottom of the totem pole (or the service industry)...

It seems every aspect of my life at some point or another has been a giant lesson in humility. (Was I born cocky?) From working for an attorney that is only a year older than me and is highly intelligent and successful (nothing says 'ouch' like realizing the rest of the world is "at your age"), or the audition that makes you feel like cattle - New York SHOULD be a very humbling place. You haven't been humbled yet? Go wait tables. That should do the trick.

Brother Jimmy's - If you are a Southerner, then there are two places you have to know about in New York. Number 1 - Brother Jimmy's and Number 2 - Hill Country (Texas BBQ). Now being a North Carolinian, I prefer Brother Jimmy's (BEST collards EVER!!), but I won't knock Hill Country's banana puddin'. Sometimes you just need a taste of home and that's a good place to start. Half off with a southern ID on Wednesdays at Brother Jimmy's - and chances are, if you're a southern alum, you will run into some familiar faces.

Laundry - If you have the $20 to spare, it is BY far better to just drop off your laundry. Don't punish yourself and sit there all day. Think about it this way, that's 3 hours that you could have been at work and will never get back from your life. What is more valuable to you?

Alcohol - Nothing will swallow your paycheck more than trying to go out drinking in New York. Do yourself a favor, make the trip to a friend's bar where you may get some drinks on the house, or drink at home (unless it's a special occasion) and if you don't have the money to tip, please FOR THE LOVE OF GOD stay home!! (Side note - it requires just as much effort for your bartender to make you a glass of water as it does to pour a beer. You want to get fast service? Be the guy who tips on water.)

k-dub