Hard Times

Hiya

I've decided that because this is an open blog and anyone can read it... I will no longer be referring to the restaurant that I am working at by its proper name. You are all aware of the restaurant - so from now on it will simply be called "The place that just may be the death of Krystal" or PDK for short.

So I've been training for two days at PDK- and what I'm about to tell you may shock you. That's an exaggeration... but when I say the training is tough... I mean it. I'm getting my butt kicked and handed back to me on a plate. (Sorry if that was vulgar.) But it's the bitter truth. Not to say I am not doing an excellent job, (I am) - it's just proving a difficult training process. One that, hopefully, will reap excellent monetary rewards. And it will be nice making some new friends too. It's just that Christmastime is what they all refer to as "our crazy season" and they aren't kidding around. The place is right across the street from Radio City Music Hall, and it's madness this time of year. During your shift, you are basically running for 8 hours and hoping you serve some food along the way. It's not that intense... but close. I am enjoying parts of it though, and I know once I am actually interacting with customers, it will be great. But, basically, I train from 2-10pm each day and then go home and study for 3 hours so I don't fail the following days string of tests. But I am confident that once I get through training (and I will, by golly) that I will be an excellent PDK Employee.

My week is shaping up to be pretty crazy. I actually have today off - but then I am on the floor tomorrow from 3pm until midnight, then I have to work Friday morning for my cousin Greg from 9am-1pm, then I go to PDK from 3pm-Midnight. Then my friend Erin from Evansville is coming to stay with me for the weekend because she is involved in the reading at Primary Stages... so I have to meet her and bring her to the apartment (at midnight). Then Saturday morning I have a rehearsal for the Columbia Directing Scene I am in at 10:30 am. Then I have PDK from 4pm to Midnight. Then Sunday I have a rehearsal for the play reading I am doing at Primary Stage from 3pm-7pm. Then Monday I have rehearsal at 12pm for the same reading, and the performance at 4pm - which I am really excited about. Then Tuesday and Wednesday are final training days at PDK - and hopefully I'll be on the floor on my own the following weekend... If I pass my final test which is to serve dinner to the head manager and a serving assistant. If I do everything perfectly, then I pass. WHEW!!!

I know you are wishing you were me right now - but I'm sorry. You can't all be me.

"A college degree in theatre buys you time; Four whole years of not waiting tables for a living."~Anonymous

Yay

Hi Everyone!

Well, it has been an exciting week. Sorry for the delay in posting... but better late than never right? Anyway. Happy Thanksgiving, by the by. I had a great time. I'll tell you all about it!

Thursday morning Jana and her family and I were all going to go to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade... it was a cold, rainy morning in NYC, as some of you may have noticed as you watched the parade on television. Anyway - the night before - I get a call from Jana saying her Aunt (who is a lobbyist and has connections with everyone) had invited her and her family (and me, by association) to watch the parade from the Time Warner building... hooray! It was so cool! We were on the 4th floor of the building with a perfect view of the parade from indoors! AND there was a free brunch to boot! It was so cool. We watched most of the parade from up there, then Jana and her family and I decided to go down amongst the other folk who were grinning and bearing it in the freezing cold - just so we could get a taste of what it would be like had we not been at an ultra posh indoor parade watching party....

Below are some photos of the event.




This is inside the Time Warner building, and behind us is the parade passing by in Columbus Circle.











This is us inside as well, but behind us is the room that the viewing party/brunch thing was.











This is us out on the street with the other cold, wet parade watching folk. Take note of the awesome shot of the official Santa waving at my camera in the background. I took this myself. Thank you, I know.









Anyway... It was awesome. And then that night, Jana and her family (her mom, dad, aunt, cousin, cousin's husband, and 1 yr old baby) invited me out on their thanksgiving dinner. It was so nice of them - and I really had a great time. We went to this restaurant called the Knickerbocker Bar & Restaurant - and the food was great. Not as good as home cookin... but beggars can't be choosers. I really had a great time and Jana's the greatest for letting me be a part of her family for the day.

P.S. I got the job at that steakhouse I've been telling everyone about!!!!!!!!!! If you would like to know the name of it - just ask. I found out last Tuesday and I am thrilled! It's going to be hard work, but I'm going to meet so many people and I am definitely going to make bank working there. While money isn't everything - it certainly helps.

I hope everyone is enjoying their holiday- and I will write more soon!

Oh - and please feel free to comment - it was acting funny for awhile - but now it's back to normal.

Keep lookin' up, 'cause that's where it all is.

Sunday Night

I had a pretty great weekend. It was pretty relaxed - I didn't go out to any bars because I was trying to avoid alcohol as it tends to make me a bit puffy, and I have my headshots tomorrow. I am excited to get them done! It should be fun. I am spending the whole day with the photographer and the stylist I hired. For now, I'm paying to feel like a movie star. But hopefully these photos will help me change all that.

I went and saw two plays with my friend Jana this weekend. The first was "Shout! A Mod Musical" It was all about women in the 60's - and it was so much fun! I absolutely loved it. It was great to see with Jana because we are both pretty girly and it was just a girly fun show. Then today I saw a musical called "Mimi Le Duck" starring Eartha Kitt. It was ok. Eartha wasn't featured as much as she should have been... and the musical was pretty awful. But some of the songs were good.

The rest of the weekend was pretty relaxing. Watched some movies and hung out with Scott and Sammy, of course.

Hope everyone's weekend was fun!

Hi !

I just wanted to say hey. I don't really have a lot to report. I'm getting excited about my upcoming headshot session on Monday. It should be fun.

I've decided to make the most of Thanksgiving in New York since I will not be going home, which I am a little sad about...

I am trying to find some other people who are staying in New York and don't have anything to do for Thanksgiving because apparently a bunch of restaurants stay open and serve Thanksgiving dinner! Though I know it will pale in comparison to a home cooked meal (I will miss your cooking Mema! And I know you guys will have a hard time not having me there to bake the rolls - which I consider myself an expert at...) I know these restaurants will try very hard to give people a great Thanksgiving meal. Which is very exciting.

I was going to try and volunteer at a soup kitchen or something, but I guess I jumped on that bandwagon a little late because every place I called said they had enough volunteers for Thanksgiving already. Which I suppose is wonderful for them - so anyway... I am also going to go Wednesday night with some friends and watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day balloons being filled up - apparently it's awesome! And I might just get myself up at the crack of dawn Thursday and go watch the parade live and in person. Perhaps it will allow me to reminisce about the time my family and Uncle Dan's family got up at 4am New Years Day to go to the Rose Bowl Parade. Ahh... But I do cherish that memory. And I enjoyed the parade - so I'll go and ring in the holiday season right with the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Though, the season was rung in here about 2 months ago. I swear - they started building that tree at Rockefellar center a month ago... but anyway. I'll be there at that parade. With bells on. So if you'll be in the area... feel free to join me.

Over and out.

Warm!

It is so wonderfully nice outside! It is the middle of November and I truly thought New York would be freezing right about now - but it's not. And I'm very thankful.

Anyway... today I went to Del Frisco's. I'm going back for a third interview on Thursday... sheesh. But I'm hoping it will all work out.

I had my first voice lesson with a man recommended by Gary John (my career counselor). His name is Phil and he is wonderful! I love, love, loved our lesson. It was an hour long and he was so fun and really knew what he was talking about. He's been directing musicals and directing orchestra's in New York on Broadway and all around the county for about 20 years - he's really great. And I think he's going to help me a ton. And for those who have been forced to listen to the song Memory thanks to my adorable mother's persuadings... I learned how to properly sing the last notes of that song - which I had always adjusted before because I thought I couldn't belt it. But in two minutes this man had me singing it in a way I didn't know that I could sing. So - hooray! And, no, that does not mean I will be singing it willingly each and every time my mother requests... but I am feeling better about my voice.

I got stuck in Queens yesterday. It was a bit of an adventure. I'll share only because I am a little bit bored and I thought it would be funny for some of you, though it was annoying for me. So... I go to Queens every Monday for my career counseling session and I asked Gary how I could get back to Manhattan closer to 69th street instead of 42nd, where I usually go. He said I could take the F train and it would take me directly there - hooray! So I get on the F train in Queens headed to Manhattan..... OR SO I THINK. Oh no folks... I was NOT headed to Manhattan... I was, in fact, headed deep into the heart of Queens. Did I realize this right away? Of course not! About 30 minutes later after I pass about a million stops and finally end up at a spot called "Jamaica Center" - I realize I have been going very far in the opposite direction from where I wanted to be. So - ABOUT FACE - I head back to Manhattan and about 45 minutes later I finally get there. So, what I thought would be a shortcut was actually about an hour detour. But that's ok - I saw the Underground of Queens - and not a lot of people can say that.

Over and out.

Weekend

Hi there -

So this weekend was pretty great overall. Friday night I went out to Brooklyn and met Alex for drinks at this great bar over there. Then we came back to Manhattan and attempted to do karaoke - but the bar was too crowded. But we had a good time. Saturday I went with Jana to see this show at the Slant Theatre that had a whole bunch of Evansville alumni in it. It was wonderful! I saw so many people that I didn't even know were in New York, and that certainly had no idea I was here. It was wonderful. And I talked with Amelia, a girl who was a senior when I was a freshman at Evansville - and I have always looked up to her and admired her. She just graduated from the NYU graduate acting program and she's going to do a show at Arena stage in D.C. - which is really great for her. She just talked to me for the longest time and was so kind - it was really great.

I also had a rehearsal for the Columbia Film School Directing scene I am doing. I hadn't been up to Columbia yet and the campus is absolutely gorgeous. It's so strange to see this really beautiful, lush, green college campus in the middle of the city - but that's exactly what it is. And I really like the people I am working on the scene with. It should be fun!

AND I was asked by David Caudle *(see previous post for info on David) - to read the stage directions in his upcoming reading at Primary Stages - which is really great for me. So I am super excited.

I am doing well and enjoying myself. I am getting my headshots taken on Monday, Nov. 20, and I'm meeting with a voice teacher tomorrow and I am going to Del Frisco's on Tuesday and I am finally getting a little bit busy - which is great!

I'll try and keep posting often, because I know how much my mom and dad (and bethany) love it.

xoxoxo

Fun Evening

I got a wonderful invitation this evening. My friend from the New Harmony Project, David Caudle, invited me out to dinner and to see a play with him. So that was wonderful! We didn't really get to know one another at the New Harmony Project - but I admired him very much and I enjoyed the few conversations we did have. We ran into one another at a play Jana invited me to and so he knew I was in New York and looking for theatrical things to do. It was very nice - and we had a great time.

I'm sleepy so I am going to head to bed - but I'll post more later!

Blah Blah Money

Hi all-

Today I am going to find a job. I dropped off my resume at a bunch of restaurants yesterday, and I had a fairly good response, but I wasn't trying my hardest. Today I will not be as lackadaisical. I am going to Del Frisco - I'm sure most of you have heard of the one in Dallas - but there's one here in New York too - and it is a very classy place. And they hire mostly female servers - so I've got that goin' for me. I'll let you know how it goes.

Also, my new phone came in and I got my phonebook transferred over- so I didn't lose any numbers (which is something I was afraid of!) So that's a giant relief. And that means all of the ravenous calling that you make to my cell phone can ensue.

Today I have made the command decision that, aside from getting a job, I will also be buying an umbrella. I keep putting it off for some reason - and this is day three that I have gotten myself stuck in the rain. So... I put two & two together and decided today I will buy one. I am learning so much here in the big city.

Is everyone familiar with Katie Couric and her contest for a viewer to come up with her sign off from the news? Well - I need some help Katie Couric style. I need a sign-off for my blog. Ideas may be submitted via the comment section on this post or any post hereafter. I am counting on you, faithful readers, to pull through for me.

May the best sign-off win. Good luck!

Parents!

Hi All -

So I had a really wonderful weekend. My parents decided to take a spur of the moment trip up here to see me! It was so nice. They got to see my place and meet my roommate and see all that I'm doing up here. I think they really enjoyed it - and I definitely feel better now that they have seen where I'm living because I know they probably feel better about my safety and all after having met my roomie and seen my building.

As proof that they actually were in New York and in my apartment I present:

Exhibit A

Michael & Cheryl O'Connor + Sammy Smith = Cuteness



Now you know that this whole "my parents came to visit" thing wasn't just some giant web of lies. Because I know you were wondering.

Anyway!
We had a sort of last minute get-together at my apartment Saturday afternoon. Scott (my roommate), my parents, Tom & Yoli and their friend Lloyd all were here and we drank wine and had some snacks and it was really great. My parents had never met Tom & Yoli - and Yoli had never been to my apartment -so it was nice to make all of that happen. It was fun because Scott and Lloyd were talking to my dad about being a pilot and they kept asking him all of these questions - I learned more about what my dad does in one day then I had known in 23 years of living with him. I guess that doesn't speak well of me for not knowing what exactly a pilot's job entails... but now I know!

And then my Mom, Dad and I all went to this really great italian restaurant for dinner. It was very nice. I really enjoyed spending quality time with them. And then they left today - so it was a quick stay - but I really appreciated it. And they will be celebrating their 25th Wedding Anniversary on November 7, so I am glad they got to have a little weekend adventure to celebrate!

Talk to everyone soon.....and thanks again to my Mom & Dad for coming... it meant the world to me!

Broken Phone

Yesterday as I was reading in a Borders book store, I received a phone call from one of the photographers with whom I am consulting for headshots. I softly and polited said I would go outside to call him back, as it is rude to talk on your cell phone in a bookstore. I step outside, mind you, less than ONE MINUTE LATER, and much to my dismay, my cell phone appears to be off. I attempt to turn it back on, though I knew something was arry because I had not turned it off and it is not prone to random shut downs. I examine the phone. Though the buttons are lit up, the screen looks as a computer monitor does when it needs to be turned on. But my phone, of course, was on. I removed the battery from the back, even the small memory chip from the back, reassembled it all and tried again. Nothing. It had a full charge, so I knew that was not the problem.

I then came to the conclusion that my phone had simply broken in the less than one minute it had taken me to walk from the Drama section of the Borders book store to just outside the door. Awesome. So I began to walk home (in the cold... the weather has taken a turn for the winter. The soon to be bitter New York winter...) and realized I would not be able to return the photographers phone call as I had stored his number in my cell phone. His cell number, mind you, that would not be available on his website or one of the many internet searches I could perform for one's home phone number. So I am currently working closely with my father to resolve this issue (as parents, they are not feeling good about me wandering around the streets of New York without a cell phone.) This is completely understandable. What, I ask you, did people do before cell phones?! And I, too, want to get a replacement phone as soon as possible. In the meantime, if you have called me, I'm sorry I have not returned the call. I probably do not have the number I need to call you on because cell phones have made the memorization of numbers obsolete.

Please be patient until we resolve this technical issue.

Thank you.

-Management

Address

Hi Everyone,

Sorry it has taken me so long to give you an address, but I kept forgetting to talk to Scott about it. Anyway, I'm just going to receive mail through the apartment instead of buying a P.O. Box like I originally planned. So...my address is:

(I have removed my address for security reasons... but please feel free to e-mail me - krystaloconnor@gmail.com - and i'll forward it on to you!)**

So feel free to send me plenty of mail!

I hope everyone's Halloween was nice. I went and saw a play with my friend Jana. It was called The Little Dog Laughed starring Tom Everett Scott (you may remember him from film and T.V. - he's in That Thing You Do - he's the drummer, and he also stars in the T.V. show Saved on T.N.T.) .... Anyway - he got naked in the play - so that was awesome. And it was really funny. The woman who played the lead was really good as well. So it was a fun evening. And yes, I did watch a scary movie when I got home. If the Adam's Family Values is not the scariest movie I've ever seen then I don't know what is.

All my love.