Lauren E. Harrison

Well, I’m finally publishing the long overdue blog that I’ve promised to so many of you. I don’t know that I’ll be so great with updates, so bare with me. If you just can’t wait to hear more, please feel free to call, text or email me anytime…. you know how to reach me. Thanks to those of you who have been in touch with me. It’s really great to know that so many people miss and care about me.

So, in a bullet pointed nutshell, here is what I’ve been up to since I moved to NYC:

- I walk and ride the subways EVERYWHERE and no, I don’t miss my car….it’s kinda cool being “Green”. My legs have never been this toned and I can basically eat whatever I want without worrying about gaining weight. I LOVE IT!

- I have been eating great food… mostly at diners, pizza joints, bakeries and cafes. I had my first falafel, which is a pita with friend hummus… it was $2.50 and fantastic…one of the best (and cheapest) meals I’ve had thus far. My favorite neighborhood diner “Metro Diner” has the best burger I’ve ever eaten in my life… swiss cheese, avocado and homemade ranch- to die for.

- I got a job as a Sales Associate at Z Gallerie, which has been one of my favorite lifestyle stores since I was a young kid. In my first two weeks, I sold over $25,000 of furniture and home decor. My monthly goal was $10,000- so it was pretty cool to surpass that goal in two weeks. Basically, I spend about five days a week selling really cool stuff to really cool and crazy people. So far, some of my clients include: celebrity make-up artists, reality TV stars, interior decorators and high end home designers, non-English speaking Europeans and tourists from all around the world. I love that I get to work with and meet new clients everyday. My co-workers and managers are all really great people and I feel lucky that I get to work along side some of the coolest and most creative people in NYC.

- I’ve meet tons of new people and made new friends. I’ve been out and about more in the last month than I have in the last four years. I love being out and about in the City. This is the first time in years that I don’t really enjoy being at home.

- I saw “Grease” on Broadway twice before my friend Max Crumm (who played Danny) left the show to start his film career in LA. I went backstage and met the cast and crew which was pretty cool. A few of us drank champagne with and helped Max clean out his dressing room after his last Broadway show. It was a pretty bitter-sweet experience that I felt happy to be a part of it. I haven’t seen any other shows yet, simply because I can’t afford it. =(

- I’ve spent too much money- not on superfluous things, just on the essentials. For example, a box of crackers that costs $2.00 in AZ costs about $6.00 here. Not exciting…..

- Since you’ve all been asking, no, I haven’t taken any dance classes or been to any auditions. I am actually really enjoying being a “normal” person. I have taken some yoga classes, which have been fabulous. I’ll update ya’ll when I start dancing again…or choreographing…or teaching…who knows what lies next for me as a dance artist…

- People stare at me and stop me on the street a lot to talk to me. I guess I look nice… ?

- There are definitely days when I have “street rage” and I want to scream because there are people EVERYWHERE. Sometimes the subways are so jam packed that I have an elbow in my stomach, a knee in my butt and an armpit in my face…I just put my ipod on and pretend not to care, when inside I’m really screaming! One night I got chased on to the wrong subway by a drunk guy and I ended up getting lost in Harlem. After two hours of riding subways, I finally gave up, hailed a cab and made it home safe.

- I’ve not been this happy in years…actually, I don’t know that I’ve been this happy ever. Life is exciting and everyday is a new adventure which brings something new.

Well, that’s all for now… check back often for updates on my new life in NYC. =)