Living 80/20

A couple months ago I started grappling with the idea of going vegan or at least vegetarian with no dairy (that's not exactly vegan - sorry vegan peeps).  I didn't eat that much meat on a regular basis so that was going to be easy.  Dairy is a different story, but I had cut out milk a couple months earlier and had switched to almond milk.  Cheese was going to be the hardest to break up with, or so I thought.  

So I started and went all the way in.  It was pretty good, until a few days in I was brought down by spicy crunchy tuna roll craving while out on a date - oh yeah, I ate it all right and I would do it again!  This is when I realized that going a 100% wasn't going to work for me.  So now, I do what I like to call The 80/20.

New York by Nicole: 42nd Street Tour

I love being a tourist in my own city.  New York is unbelievable and I get excited to show people the city I love so much.  I never get tired to going to the same places as they all still hold wonder for me.  However, nothing terrifies me more than when I ask one of someone who is coming to visit me what they want to do while they're in New York and they say "I don't know.  Whatever you think is good."  Or even worse, they have an unrealistic idea of where everything is and how to get there - Empire State Building, World Trade Center Memorial, and the Gugenheim are not going to happen in the same day. 

It can be overwhelming for non-New Yorkers to make a feasible itinerary for when they come to visit.  I started having my friends make a list of the top 5 things they want to see while their here and then I built itineraries around them.  Over the years, I have perfected these itineraries into optimum sightseeing machines!  And now, I will share my New York Tourist wisdom with you...  Welcome to my new series, New York by Nicole!     
42nd Street Walking Tour 

Duration:  Early Afternoon into evening 
Cost: El Cheapo! (includes lunch and dinner)

View Larger Map


Starting Point A: Grand Central Station 

42nd Street at Lexington Ave

Cost: Free

Grand Central is not only the world's largest (76 acres) and the nation's busiest (nearly 700,000 commuters and subway riders use it daily) railway station, but also one of the world's most magnificent, majestic public spaces.  Every time I walk through Grand Central I get this warm amazing feeling of New York Pride.  I never get tired of wandering through it and noticing little details that I never noticed before.

Recommendations...

Self Guided Walking Tour:  this is great printable walking tour of Grand Central that is full of facts and history.  You won't miss anything!

Vanderbilt Hall Exhibits: If you check out the event calendar, usually there is an art installation in Vanderbilt Hall that is always spectacular.  During the holidays they have a nice bazaar there.

A tentative plan is still a plan. Communicate people!

I have been struggling with friends and men that I've been dating with the concept of a "tentative plan."  Yes, tentative plans are not solid plans, but they are STILL plans.  So when someone says to you, "Yeah, let's do something this weekend," or "I'd love to do that, I'll let you know." Why is it acceptable for them to NOT tell you?  Just because they didn't say, "yes, I'll be there a 100%?"  No, you're reserving that time, RSVP mother fucker!

A couple of years ago, a very passive aggressive fight started between me and one of my best friends over a concert in Central Park.  He said he wanted to go and would let me know.  The day of, I still hadn't heard from him.  I called and let him know that I didn't appreciate him blowing me off.  His argument was that he hadn't said that he was definitely coming.  Mine was that he partially committed to it, and was going to let me know and didn't, and that I'm not a fucking mind reader.  Make a phone call, please.

Pathetic Guy Chronicles: Restraining order, anyone?

O-M-G! There are no words.

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From: Pathetic Guy
Date: Wed, Aug 10 at 2:29 PM
Hi, would like to resume talking, at least via email for now.

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From the Peanut Gallery: Um… uh... wha... Crazy muther f@*ker!

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From: Me
Sent: Wednesday, August 10, 2011 4:26 PM
Pathetic Guy, what the hell?? I cannot figure out why you absolutely refuse to accept all of this! I don’t want to be friends with you. And that includes any activities that fall under a friendship, like hanging out, emailing, and talking. You need to get it and stop contacting me. 

Pathetic Guy Chronicles: Just Shut the F*%k Up Already

And yet… he STILL doesn’t get it.

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From: Pathetic Guy
Date: August 2, 2011 3:37:38 PM EDT

I know you don’t want to talk, but thought you may be interestd in this event.

Announcing a new Meetup! I wanted to do that…Just not alone!!
Let’s spend the day at Governor’s Island
When: Saturday, August 27, 201112:30 PM
Where:Governor’s Island Ferry Terminal 10 South

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Yeah… I think I’ll be passing on that one. I do love Governor’s Island, but how much do I want to bet that he’ll be there waiting for me? Psycho….

Pathetic Guy Chronicles: The Last Word

Wow, someone really needs to get in that last word. I guess telling him not to contact me anymore several times was just a suggestion to him?!?

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From: Pathetic Guy
Date: August 1, 2011 11:19 AM EDT
Subject: i’m sorry again

I got your last email, I’m sorry to hear that. I hope one day you will want to talk again, because I think you’d be an awesome friend to have and a great wing gal.

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From the Peanut Gallery: Sigh… 

Pathetic Guy Chronicles: Am I speaking Dutch here?

This guy clearly doesn’t understand what I’m telling him. He’s like herpes - just when you think you’ve cleared it up, it’s baaaacckkkk!

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From: Pathetic Guy
Date: July 26, 2011 6:12 PM EDT
Thanks for responding back to me but it still hurts to know I’m losing the possibility of having a great friend. I know what I did was wrong

but believe I could be an amazing friend to you as well, that could listen to you when you need someone and make you laugh. We had many many many hours of conversations that were fun. Yes, I know I’ve said and acted like a jerk, I’m not perfect and can be immature at times.

I really appreciate your friendship and even though I only know you a short time, I ask you not to give up on a possible friendship so fast. Please let me have the opportunity to show you that I am better than this and can give you the friendship you deserve.

I wouldn’t be emailing you this much and calling if I didn’t think it was important, but I enjoyed those times we spoke and I know we can have those times again.