Since You've Been Gone... scratch that I've been gone.

I am sorry for the delay in posting. I drafted this a while ago and by that I mean two weeks ago and didn't click PUBLISH. Lo siento.

Five people now inhibit my apartment in New York (really the apartment of my friend's great aunt). Me, my three roommates, and Aunt Helen are trying to live happily ever after in the two-bedroom New York apartment. Honestly it is a beautiful and large apartment that I was blessed to have, but I was obviously woken from my comfortable state of living when Helen decided to return early. My mom saying, "Don't get too comfortable," in an I-told-you-so manner popped up in my head. It didn't make sense... I still had a bed to myself and was still comfy. So what did that mean?

In some situations it is a reference to being over-indulgent. Taking more than you need, and when others need the excess, you must sit back up and only occupy cushion of the couch, not the entire thing. However, in this situation the comfort of my daily schedule, the bigger picture is more appropriate. I did not care that the aunt was in the apartment, and even thought I, the artsy one, would be the one to love her uniqueness. (I did enjoy her being there and changing up the couple and two roommates dynamic a bit.)

I was comfortable going to work. Walk a block, cross, one street, go down the steps, swipe my month Metro pass, walk all the way down the platform, get on the 2nd car so in two stops I am directly at the 40th and 7th exit. I knew than to exit right walk by the small vendor and barbershop to street level. I would walk less than two blocks and go through the gold revolving doors, pass the lobby employee with a smile, and ride the second bank of elevators to 27. I did this well, and I did my job even better. I would arrive at ten each day to set up my laptop in the conference room and check my WORK email.

I would ask my boss for daily tasks and work on longer projects. I finished what was asked and did a bit more. I was devoted to my tasks no matter how menial they may be to overall production of oh-so-many deliveries of seasons each year.

I was tempted by jokes to quit school and work. Why do you go to school? To get a job I want would be the previous answer, but what if I had one lined up? I need a better answer if my family is supporting me to take classes, understand a field that interests me and meet new people.

I needed to learn more. I need to know what is behind all this 'good design.' I have the base knowledge that could let me update tech-packs in Illustrator, change the colors of it’s, and even place graphics on garments. But, I learned that although this was design, it was minimal and manufactured. I want organic design and to be able to create my visions, rather than being told the base and accent colors. I mean I did no some blind decisions this summer, and actually was confident in them. I just want to be able to do my thing, enjoy college, and learn all I can so that I can be inspired for a career, even if it is working behind someone else's vision. School is your chance to create what you want, within your professor’s guidelines. I want to be able to create graphic projects from start to finish to see the process I enjoy most and where I need to improve my skills or craft.

I could have a job, but without by degree and the four years of hard work behind it I could just work. I could live of the income, get some free clothes, and even enjoy the environment but I hadn't put my time in. My Illustrator skills definitely improved working with it everyday; and that is a testament to the Co-o motto of learning in the real world.

The reality is your work, most of the time, will not be yours. Whether you work as a designer for a brand, or a banker, what you do at your job is part of the job and I see how America gets a case of the Mondays. Work is hard and my 40-hour weeks proved why people are tired when then come home. I saw my week as a challenge and fun because I knew it was for the summer, and I was having the most real work experience (BEFORE MY CO-OP).

Quoteable.

"Bad design is smoke, while good design is a mirror."
- Juan-Carlos Fernandez Ideogram, Mexico

This is my new motto. Just letting you know.

Keeping busy. Too busy?

I have have obviously been keeping busy. I have been working 10-6 Monday to Friday and now am an EMPLOYEE, a real employee with a real email address for the next three weeks

I am the assistant to the Creative Designer and a paid employee every Thursday and Friday. I worked hard the first few weeks and it obviously paid off.

I make sure to get my work done and not ask too many questions. That is what my boss loved. I was pretty self-siffiecient and work in a very busy office. I may do more work than neccesary in some situations; however, it is refreshing in the sense that most people who have been in the working world start to cut corners.

I have been bust and working later than requireed, and my roomates and I decided we have to do more.

We all now have jobs varying from babysitting three times a week plus an inpaid intership at NYU pshycology department to working at a fashion recruiting agency.

We have to see more museums and go to new areas so that we go home knowing we saw all we could.

I also been trying to figure out my housing for next year from here in NY. I wanted to experience living on my own, so I decided to not do university housing. Instead I put a down payment on apartment complex close to campus. My roomate ended up backing out so I'm deciding whether to live in a studio there by myself or in a house with some friend from my spring break trip a block away. It has been a hassle but I asked for it in not applying for housing sophomore year. A friend told me recently that you could of applyed for housing and then not put in the down payment, in order to ensure a back-up plan.

I know it will work out and everything this summer has. I'm off to do something neat, to purposely brag. Adios.

Jay-Z.

Don't you love knowing knowing you made the right decision. I know my summer in New York was just what I needed. I am so happy I am here, even though I miss the camp, and more importantly unbelievable people, I have spent every summer at.

I got into New York last Friday evening straight from my empty suite in Race. I was the last roomate out and left it spotless for your honors frosh next year (or as close to is as we could minus the paint on the floors and marks on the walls) and had a friend luckily walk me to the train station. A different friend, who was actually on the train, helped me carry my stuff down, and then she also helped me drag my stuff to my sister Dorit who met me at the station. We taxied to my beautiful apartment. Then Dorit took my roomates and I along with her friend to a nice dinner in the meat packing district. Then Sara, Adam, and I met up with Adam's friend who is interning for Morgan Stanley and went to a hookah bar. Saturday Sara and I walked around Central Park and then we got some stuff for the apartment. We went out to diner with the Adam's friend to his fave place in Chinatown. $35 for six of us (his friend came too). Then we went out aroud NYU in Union Square. Sunday we hung out and then went to the Central Park Zoo, and this indie movie in a theatre a block away. I started at an interning for a deisgner of an Urban Apparel company Monday and worked everyday other than today. I am interning for one of the designers for clothing company's licensed line to liscensing group this week, and after that I will be the Creative Director assistant.

I love it so far. I work 10-6 with a paid lunch. I create swatch libraries for their past seasons. I file techniques they want for reference. I find inspiration photos in magazines. I flip through European photographs and tag and mark which fashions for T-shirts are possible for the line. I copy. I scan. I create a storyboard of all the collection in one Illustrator file while sitting in their big conference room with a view of the city.

Every night this week we tried to do something new. Monday night I ended up getting asked to be a girl from work's roommate's hair model at this salon on 5th avenue. So I am two shades lighter, and it's cute for the summer. Then went to dinner at Dorit and her boyfriend's place which was great. Tuesday one of my roomates cooked dinner for us. Wednesday we went to a delicious Mexican restaurant and I got this avocado and bean and chicken soup. Thursday we walked around Rockefeller Square and did some shopping at H&M, then watched Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy at the apartment. I also did laundry! This year taught me well to do a lot in a week.

My fourth roomate came, so now we are happily sharing the guest bedroom. It has a trundle bed and a day bed. So we are good.

NOW WHERE MY TITLE COMES IN...

During my second week of work I had more responsiblities. More work. But more fun. My computer Imaging 101 course prepared me well to be comfortable in Illustrator and

Jay-Z still comes in to approve all the seasons collections.. so I wasted some time in the lobby till Jay-Z came in for his meeting. I saw his back and he looked my direction with his shades on. So that is my claim to fame.

My other celebrity citing was actually during my first week in NY and we were walking by this pricey mexican restaurant by Columbus Circle and Kelly Ripa was eating outside. The next morning she talked about "Oh that margarita last night..." on live TV.

Beautiful.

Tamar