I'm learning so much!

I woke up early this morning to meet with the head Pitney Bowes rep for New York. As I was waiting in quite possibly the worst looking "reception" area I've ever seen, I realized that I just couldn't do it. I can't work in a mail room for Pitney Bowes. Considering I'm trying to be as logical as possible, I stayed for the interview. The dude was really willing to find me something, but it would be in the mail room, not as a receptionist like I preferred. We got settled over there and then he sent me to speak with a mail room manager in a huge law firm in times square. You would think the mail room in this snazzy building (in times square!) would be nice, wouldn't you? HA! There weren't any windows, there were random desks, and the only office was small and crowded- and that was the manager's! Before I met with this site manager I knew without a doubt that I wasn't going to be working for PB anymore. I thought about cancelling our meeting while I was on my way there, but I thought I should at least give it a try. Well, I tried it, but I'm not doing it.

As of right now they think I'm going to be there on Monday morning to work in the mail room. It's not even the fact that I'm the only girl that would be working there. It's not even the fact that I would have to go out and buy new clothes for this job (uh...spending money isn't really my thing these days), it's not even the fact that when I walked in all those weird mail room men looked at me like I was fresh meat. Of course all those things add to my decision, but the main reason why I can't take this job is because I moved here to pursue acting. I can't go to auditions if I'm delivering mail. When I had gotten there this morning I felt in my gut that I shouldn't do it. I feel very strongly about being able to make money to support myself, but I'd much rather be living paycheck to paycheck in a job I like rather than one I hate. If I'm working 40 hours a week at a dead end job that makes me unhappy, I'm not going to be myself when it's time to audition or take classes. It's a lifestyle change, and thousands of people in this city are doing it. I'll be poor and I'll have to eat off of a bag of beans for a week, but that's just the sacrifice I'm going to have to take.

You know how if you're lost in Houston you just have to look for I-10 towards San Antonio and you'll eventually find your way back? Well it's kind of like that here, except it deals with the N or the W train. The N or the W always heads to Astoria, so I'm always on it. I was in times square (after meeting with the manager in the wretched mail room), and went down to the station to head back to Astoria. I took the N train knowing that wherever I was I would get home. About 20 minutes later I realized that something wasn't right. Everything looked different- I didn't worry because I knew I would get home evenutally. I just thought they were going a round about way. Well, after looking at a subway map 40 minutes into my ride (I should have made it to Astoria in 20), I realized that I had gotten on the right train (the N) but took the one going south instead of north. I ended up on the south side of Brooklyn- quite a ways a way from Astoria (which is in Queens). I thought about getting some lunch while I was there, but I literally only had $2 in my wallet and no debit card- it hasn't come in the mail yet.

So! I made it back safe and sound. Next time I'll know that you can't just get on the right train, you have to be heading in the right direction as well!

Until next time,
Em