what do all these people do?

This post is quite delayed, given my new unemployed status - and more importantly, my inability to access the internet 24/7. I never realized how much I took it for granted. On Monday, I wandered around Manhattan trying to see where I could get free internet access. The quick answer? Nowhere. I went to the New York Public Library, where there was a 3 hour wait to use the computer for half an hour! A man actively monitored everyone - "Number 3! You have been on for more than 30 minutes. Move it people!" Wow. So I waited two whole days before using the internet (I'm currently at my parents' house). Quite an accomplishment.

I spent all day Monday and most of Tuesday wandering around Manhattan. There were people everywhere! Walking down the streets, shopping, in the library. These people were not dressed for work. It seemed like they were all on vacation. Who are these people? Students? Hipsters? FBI agents? Do these people work? Or is their work so flexible that they can hang out all day? I'm curious.

I also tend to think about this whenever I get my nails done (which I did yesterday.) Again, where do all these people come from? It was the middle of the day - 1:00 PM on a Tuesday, and there were quite a few people in the salon. And yes, I could easily stereotype and say they were rich wives of Very Important Businessmen. But they weren't. Lots of really young women, and a surprising number of men. Unintentional discovery: men go to get their backs waxed during the day, when they think noone will be in the salons. I saw two guys come in for this during my 1 hour there!

That was one nail salon. And as all of us newly minted New Yorkers know, there are more nail salons per person in Manhattan than there are genuinely nice people. So how many people were getting their nails done at the same time as me? How much discretionary income is there in Manhattan (and, by logical extension, the world?!)

Thoughts too big for my abnormally small head.

with friends like these ...

After the initial post of The Sophia Chronicles, I admit I was curious to see my friends' reactions to the site. And true to form, they came through in the two camps I have come to know and love.

Camp 1: Consistently Supportive
Camp 2: Perpetually Making Fun of Me for my Dorkiness

Actually, there are only two people who fall into Camp 2. Hello Campers! I hate you. No, no, I'm just kidding. (But seriously, stop, because I go home and cry).

Camp 1's reactions surprised me a bit though. The feedback all included references to the cuteness of the site. And several people also commented about the pinkness (and how cute it is that the site is pink.)

Thanks for the support guys! Although, I never really planned on my site being cute. I feel like the site should be scented. With baby powder. And decorated with pictures of fairies.

Enough joking around (or being a dork, Camp 2). Today is my last day of work! Quite anticlimactic actually. I don't have much to do. My monthly MetroCard expired today. What a coincidence. I forgot that today is the day it expires. The turnstyle rejected me, and the lady behind me uttered some not-so-nice words since I put a glitch into her perfectly timed morning. But yes, my MetroCard expired. As did my corporate life. Goodbye!

Today is also the day I get my SELF magazine in the mail (I remember because last month, I got my first issue of SELF, and I thought, hey, how funny, my MetroCard expired today.)

I don't know why I subscribe to SELF magazine. I don't work out. But everytime I read SELF, it makes me want to work out. And it makes me feel healthy. They have this thing they do every year called the SELF challenge. It challenges the readers to start a workout routine. You can do it ladies! Workout with a friend! You are strong independent women! They even include a workout and meal diary in the issue, where you can record what you ate and when you worked out. And damn if I don't rip it out every month and plan on doing it.

And then I remember. I like greasy food and being lazy. Oh well. Let's see if tonight's SELF has any new tricks to get me to be active. Jessica Simpson is on the cover. How inspiring.

the sophia chronicles

Welcome to the Sophia Chronicles! So, I know I'm a little late to jump on the blog bandwagon. Actually, I tend to be slow on the uptake for all things technology oriented. My cell phone doesn't even take pictures (I can see your jaws dropping). And you know what? I like it that way!

So, hello. I wanted to start the Sophia Chronicles today, because of a few reasons:

1) I have time
2) Because I quit my job
3) So now I have time.

The basic background about me: I'm 24. As of tomorrow, I will have used to work for a hedge fund (that grammar can't be right.) Before that, I used to work at a boutique Investment Bank. I think it's funny when they call corporate outfits boutiques. I keep imagining that there is a floor somewhere that sells lingerie and handbags. Actually, the fact that they call them corporate outfits is funny too.

So I hung out with The Man ("TM") for a few years. But TM wasn't really my thing. I gathered up all of my courage (which was a long, drawn out and pretty pathetic effort) and finally broke up with TM. Go Courage!

Now I'm free for a little bit. I can watch the Price is Right and Days of Our Lives. Although on Days, I think the storylines are now all focused on the illegitimate children of the main characters from when I used to watch it years ago. Like, Belle is all grown up now? What is that about? And isn't her boyfriend kind of her cousin? And the way the time has progressed, isn't Marlena 156 years old?

I hope to update this Blog regularly. My goal is not to let this become one of my many forgotten hobbies of yesterday. Though it would have some nice friends, what with tennis, rollerblading and knitting.

My prior life included four great years at a fancy-pants institution where the best things were, in order: my friends, free donuts in the dining hall and grade inflation. That last one sure helped though. Oh, and I guess getting an Ivy League education was pretty cool, too.

Thanks for reading this! I am still getting acquainted with this site and the whole Blogging process in general, but I think you can add comments to my posts and other fun things. Hope you come back soon. Free gift with purchase!