Elly is a Four-Letter Word Column 2 – Video Intro:
What is it with musicians and tattoos?
These days, there’s more artwork at a music awards show than inside the Sistine Chapel. Apparently, you can’t rock out without looking like one giant quill dipped in ink. Out and about, it’s no different. People who listen to rather than make music (so, basically, everyone) also want to permanently mark themselves. Who needs to go to a gallery when you can just go to a nightclub and look at everyone’s skin?
I’m not a big fan of tattoos – for myself, that is. I don’t have any, and probably never will. Don’t think I haven’t thought about it. I have. How could I not? When everyone around you is ‘doing it’, of course it’s going to cross your mind. But after I think it through, I always come up with the same answer: ‘No, Elly, no.’ And here’s why…
Apart from the fact that I don’t think it would suit me (I don’t have anything pierced, either – including my ears – for the same reason), it goes against one of my philosophies on life. And that is: Everything is temporary.
As you age, you evolve. As you evolve, so does your look. What looked good on you in your teens and 20s rarely looks good on you in your 30s and 40s. And what looked good on you in your 30s and 40s rarely looks good on you in your 50s and 60s. For instance, you get a tattoo on your arm in celebration of your 21st birthday. Years later, you may have put on a little weight (hello, bingo wings!) and no longer want to draw attention to that part of your body. But even if you’ve managed to stay in shape, that 21st tattoo is unlikely to still suit you. Most people know this about their clothes and accessories, so why don’t they know it about their tattoos? I mean, I loved pastel terry-towel headbands in the 80s, but I’m glad I never stapled one to my skull. For such an image-conscious culture (fashion/hair/make-up etc.), it seems incongruent that anyone would do something to their appearance that they can never change.
Putting aesthetics to one side for a moment, you don’t just evolve physically. You also evolve emotionally. That catchphrase or person or design that was so meaningful to you at the time you got inked might feel like a thing of the past in the not-too-distant future. But you’ll never be able to completely move on from it, because every time you look at your skin, you’ll see a permanent reminder. And even though you might have had the tattoo for over a decade, it will be brand new to every person you meet, so don’t be surprised (or pissed off) if they ask you about it. Do you really want to repeat that story over and over again for the rest of your life? You might want to ask yourself that question before you confirm your appointment with Rusty Needles, your local tattoo artist.
Of course, not all tattoos are created equal. A subtle tattoo on your shoulder blade, or the like, is not the same as a sleeve tattoo, collar tattoo, neck tattoo or, my favorite (not), face tattoo. A subtle tattoo is not going to limit a person as much as a Hey-Check-Me-Out-I’m-Covered-In-Tatts tattoo. Either way, it’s not so much the look of the tattoo that turns me off. If someone’s hot, they’re usually hot with or without tattoos (unless you look like one of these characters). It’s the naivety of the inked individual that concerns me. By getting tattooed, they’ve just told me, before I’ve even spoken to them, that they’re short-sighted. They can’t imagine a day when they’ll ever feel differently about that tattoo; a day when it’s not who they are anymore; a day when it will no longer flatter them. Perhaps they took all of those possibilities into consideration and decided to get the tattoo anyway, which is fine. But I dare say, in most cases, it probably didn’t even occur to them. They were living in the moment – and if not the moment then at least the era. Tattoos are ‘so hot right now’. So, it stands to reason that they’ll go out of style eventually, thus making everyone who has one look dated and uncool. Oops!
What happens when musicians, for instance, are no longer at the height of their careers – or, worse, never make it at all? (Dave Gleeson of the awesome and successful Aussie band, The Screaming Jets, warns of this, even though he does have some tattoos. Perhaps he was speaking from experience.) What happens when, one day, a retired sportsman wants a different life for himself; a more conservative life? What happens when an ex gang member simply doesn’t want to look like a thug anymore? Too bad. They’ll always be wearing their past on their sleeve – literally. Tattoo removal? Yes and no. Apparently, it’s expensive, painful and you end up with a scar that, in many cases, is worse than the tattoo. At this point in time, it’s not always an option.
There’s one more reason I’m a little anti-tattoo: I don’t want to brand myself. My grandparents were holocaust survivors. What if something similar were to happen in my lifetime and, for survival reasons, I wanted to remain anonymous? That would be difficult to do with a tattoo. Also, I’m the kind of person who, if attracted to tattoos, would be likely to get something patriotic and/or cultural. What if I ever wanted to pretend I was from a different country or background? My tattoo would give me away. I know these examples sound extreme and unlikely, but they’re the cherry on my cake of reasons to remain un-branded.
Do I lack respect for people with tattoos? As a general rule, no. Not at all. I’ve seen a few absolute shockers where the words ‘You f#cking idiot’ might have crossed my mind. But, on the whole, I’m indifferent about them. I have a number of girlfriends with tattoos (usually a ‘tramp stamp’ at the base of their spine, which I almost never see). And I’m proud to say of my four Little Sister mentees (I’ve been mentoring underprivileged teenage girls since January 2009), only one has been tattooed, and I’m impressed with her choice of design and position on her body – they’re very tasteful and meaningful. I’ve dated men with tattoos – but, to be honest, I can’t remember who was tattooed and who wasn’t, as they all fell into the aforementioned ‘subtle tattoo’ category. Also, I’m open to exceptions to the rule – I adore Joel Madden, of Good Charlotte fame, and he’s pretty much completely dipped in ink.
Sure, I’ve been tempted to get a tattoo at various times in my life, but I’m glad I never did. I think back to some of the tattoos I would have chosen in my younger years, and I’m relieved I don’t have them now. At the end of the day, I know in my heart that tattoos aren’t for me. If you know in your heart that tattoos ARE for you, and you don’t think you’ll ever have any ‘tattoo regret’, think again. Even one of my favorite bloggers, Gala Darling (pictured), who’s as famous for her tattoos as she is for her quirky online persona and sumptuous website, admits to regretting her tattoos at times. When I read her recent post on the subject, I was shocked by her admission and impressed with her honesty. Go check it out if you think all my tattoo talk is a little conservative for you.
If, after taking all of this in, you still want to get a tattoo (or another tattoo), go for your life. All I hope is that you’ve thought it through. Just don’t get one of these. Please! I beg of you! The following are just the tip of the iceberg:
Really? You’ve tasted your own urine? Oh, you mean the term of endearment? That’s ‘sweet pea’, twit.
Your next what? Grammatical error? I think what you’re trying to say is ‘you’re next’. So, you’re a thug AND a dumb ass. Nice one.
And so do collar tattoos with spelling mistakes. Legendary.
The irony is I think you’ll be grabbing a lot fewer asses with this tatt, dude.
What a ‘shocker‘ – pun intended. Utterly tasteless. Totally permanent.
Youth is temporary. Stupidity is forever.
Do you have tattoos? If so, what do you like or dislike about them? If not, what are your reasons for remaining ink-free?
If you enjoyed this, I’d love it if you left a comment below, engaged with me on social media, subscribed to my email list (it’s free and you get a gift!) or shared it with others. In fact, here’s something you can cut & paste into Twitter/Facebook:
Before you get a tattoo, read this (and check out the hilarious ‘bad tattoo’ gallery): www.ellyklein.com/tattoos
I’ve spent the last few weeks, during meals and breaks, re-watching the entire 8-season series of Entourage from start to finish. And I loved it all over again. It was nice to watch it with fresh eyes, as a slightly older and more mature person, and take even more juicy tidbits out of it.
If you watch through the credits of the last episode, you’ll catch the last few minutes of the finale – and they leave a giant cliffhanger. Why? Because they’re planning to do a movie. Apparently, the script’s been written, the film’s been green-lit and the cast are on board. All they have to do is shoot it. So, shoot it, already! I can’t WAIT to see it! I will be so excited when this thing opens. Definitely something for me to look forward to.
So, for this week’s Song of the Week, I’ve chosen Superhero by Jane’s Addiction, because it’s the well-known and beloved theme song to Entourage. Here’s the original version:
Here’s the title sequence for Entourage:
And here are two of the best Ari Gold rants ever. Even though he’s not technically part of the ‘entourage’, the show simply wouldn’t be the same without him. He’s most fans’ favorite character. Hilarious:
Are you a fan of Entourage? Did you like the theme song?
Elly is a Four-Letter Word Column 1 – Video Intro:
Note: Sorry you can’t really see the cupcake! It was delicious, though (heh heh).
A friend of mine recently posted a link to a new women’s fitness magazine, asking us to ‘like’ their Facebook page. While I usually ‘like’ generously on Facebook, this request stopped me in my tracks. A new women’s fitness magazine? Really? For goodness’ sake why?
With all the health, fitness and weight loss paraphernalia out there – everything from books to magazines, TV shows to infomercials, personal trainers to online programs, and so on – I wondered: How many different ways can one possibly say, ‘Eat less and exercise more’?
I don’t mean to discount all the people in the health and fitness industry who are doing great work. I’m all for sports, gyms, exercise equipment, workout gear, personal trainers, nutritious food and quality resources. But for the majority of us who aren’t athletes and simply want to make an effort to lead a healthy lifestyle, it’s not rocket science. In fact, I dare say everything you need to know could be reduced to a single page of information – with room for a picture or two.
The health & fitness industry has a tendency to overcomplicate things: Cardio Vs resistance, sets Vs reps, high intensity Vs low intensity, carbs Vs sugar, animal protein Vs vegetarianism/veganism, morning workouts Vs evening workouts, supplements Vs chemical-free/organic… let’s call the whole thing off! These days, it’s not good enough just to eat your veggies – they have to be raw. And it’s not good enough just to go for a jog – you have to incorporate sprints. Honestly, we might all have to quit our jobs so that we can worry about this full-time.
The health and fitness industry also has a tendency to sugarcoat (albeit with Stevia) the realities of leading a healthy lifestyle. It’s no where near as exhilarating as it looks in the glossy magazines (see right) or movie montages. The truth is, for the majority of the human population, it’s dull, as it requires focus, discipline, discomfort, consistency and patience – for the rest of your life. Being conscious of each and every morsel you put in your mouth, and exercising regularly, can be excruciating to maintain for those of us who just want to flop in front of the TV with a tub of gelato or a packet of chips (or both).
Steve Martin said it best when he hosted the Oscars one year. If memory serves, Brad Pitt was in Fight Club shape (swoon!) and Steve commented, ‘I would do anything to look like him, except eat right and exercise.’ Touche! Everyone wants to look hot without having to do the work or make the sacrifices required to achieve said hotness. It’s a little easier when you’re young. But as you age, putting in the hard yards is crucial if you want to look as youthful on the outside as you feel on the inside. (The older I get, the more agree that youth is, indeed, wasted on the young.) When Dawn French, an English comedian famous for her sense of humor and (ahem) portliness, lost a stack of weight, an interviewer asked her how she did it. Her response? Two words: ‘Joyless eating.’ That’s not to say you can’t enjoy delicious food when you’re watching your weight, but I agree there’s definitely an element of joylessness to it. You can’t dive head-first into a bowl of wedges with sweet chilli sauce and sour cream at your local pub – you have to order a salad, perhaps with grilled fish. And even if you do have a wedge or two, it can literally only be a wedge or two… you can’t get carried away. Humph.
If you’re active on social media, hardly a day will go by where you won’t be confronted by a motivational meme or tweet. And if you’re anything like me, the only way they’re likely to help you lose weight is by making you throw up. Corny, clichéd and lame are a few words I’d use to describe these ‘profound’ pearls of wisdom. However, as with any rule, there are always a few exceptions. Here’s my favorite: ‘Success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out.’ I like it because it’s the unglamorous truth. If you fail to make those small efforts (doing that workout, resisting that chocolate bar, choosing a salad over a meat pie for dinner, and so on) day in and day out, you won’t see results. It’s that simple.
So, in my completely unprofessional opinion, but with years and years of trial and error to back me up, here’s pretty much everything you need to know to get and stay in shape. (To be fair, I had my doctor look over it, just to make sure I wasn’t leading y’all astray.) However, I’ll concede that while it’s straightforward and succinct, it’s easier said than done:
1. Drink plenty of water. Not only is it good for you, but it’ll help stave off cravings. Fun fact: Sometimes when you feel hungry, what you really are is thirsty. Drink up to keep your weight down.
2. ‘Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.’ Yep, this now famous quote from health expert, Michael Pollan, pretty much sums it up. I don’t want to get into an argument over food here. If there are things you can’t eat, or don’t want to eat, that’s fine – just do your research and make sure you have a healthy diet. Perhaps enlist the services of a doctor, dietician, nutritionist or health coach to guide you, or just invest in some really good books and/or courses. If you start to feel overwhelmed, think back to that original quote. If something seems too complicated or a bit ridiculous (diet shakes, anyone?), it probably is. Keep it simple.
3. Eat only when you’re truly hungry. This is much easier said than done, as there are so many foods out there that you want to eat simply because they’re yummy and not necessarily because you’re famished. Do your best. You’ll figure it out.
4. Exercise five days per week. I say five because six (or seven) can be difficult for the average mortal to maintain, but if you slip back to four, three or fewer, you won’t get results. As for the exercise itself, it doesn’t really matter what you do, as long as: a) it’s challenging and varied, and b) you do it. Don’t search forever for an activity that’s ‘fun’. When you’re doing something so regularly, it’s bound to get boring, especially when it’s uncomfortable, as being out of breath tends to be. If you enjoy a particular sport or recreational activity, such as playing tennis, taking dance classes or surfing, incorporate it into your weekly routine – but, unless you’re an athlete in training, you’ll probably still need to do workouts that are designed purely for your health, fitness and weight loss/maintenance goals. Schedule them like an appointment and, as Nike so brilliantly said, ‘Just do it.’
5. Don’t aim for a particular weight or clothing size. Aim for a diet and exercise regime you can stick to, and then make the most of what you’ve got. If you start depriving yourself of food, or exercising more than you’d like to, other parts of your life will suffer. There’s no point in being buff and grumpy. Nor is it advisable to neglect your work, relationships or other interests. Do your best and accept the rest. Once you’ve got your healthy lifestyle in place, this is where flattering clothing, sneaky undergarments (such as shapewear) and, perhaps, cosmetic enhancements come into play. Do as much or as little as you want to do to look your best, but don’t strive for perfection. It’s unattainable.
6. Now, take the emphasis off your appearance. At the end of the day, you are not your appearance. What you look like is only one small part of who you are. Like a gift, pretty packaging is nice, but it’s what’s inside that counts. Attractive qualities, such as intelligence, a sense of humor, kindness, loyalty, generosity and having a passion (or passions!) in life, are so much more important. If you ever find yourself in a flap over last night’s binge, or the number on the scales, or the fact that you’ve barely moved your body for two weeks, stop. Take a deep breath. Look at yourself in the mirror and repeat after me: ‘I am not my appearance. I am not my appearance. I am not my appearance…’ Put things into perspective, get back on track and move forward.
Yep, that’s pretty much it.
Okay, this piece is a little tongue-in-cheek, so don’t get me wrong – I realize there’s more to it sometimes. But as a general rule, you’ll have trouble finding the secret or magic bullet or revolutionary way to get and stay in the kind of shape that would make you want to go swimsuit shopping every weekend, so I suggest you call off the search. If you know absolutely nothing about diet and exercise, or you just want to start off on the right foot, go to your doctor for a check-up. He or she can then refer you to a dietician who will arm you with information and help you with your meal plans. And an experienced personal trainer should be able to design a fitness program tailored to your needs. If a buddy system would help, organize to meet a friend at the gym, or join an outdoor fitness group. But if you’re self-sufficient, working out alone is ideal, as it tends to be quicker, more convenient and you don’t have to rely on anyone.
Yes, losing weight and keeping it off is not all fun and games and being happy to switch the remote for the treadmill or a bowl of French fries for a bowl of green beans. It can be a sweaty-exercising, yummy-food-depriving, patience-testing siege. But we wouldn’t do it if it wasn’t worth it, right? There’s nothing quite like that boost to your confidence (and, let’s be honest, your love life) when you know you look ravishing. And if, say, a women’s fitness magazine helps you do what needs to be done then bring it on! In fact, I’ll confess, not only did I ‘like’ my aforementioned friend’s Facebook page… turns out, I genuinely do like it.
Do you agree that ‘eat less and exercise more’ pretty much sums it up? Or do you think it’s more complicated than that – and, if so, what worked for you?
If you enjoyed this, I’d love it if you left a comment below, engaged with me on social media, subscribed to my email list (it’s free and you get a gift!) or shared it with others. In fact, here’s something you can cut & paste into Twitter/Facebook:
Can everything you need to know about weight-loss really be summed up in five words? You be the judge… www.ellyklein.com/weightloss
This week is the re-launch of my website, and I couldn’t be more excited!
After completing a premier online business course while I was in New York City for the entire month of April (Marie Forleo‘s RHH B-School, if anyone’s interested – loved it!), I plan to turn my website into a lean, mean entertainment machine. My dream is for people to find the site through word-of-mouth, social media and mainstream media, read something they like, become an email subscriber (over there on the right-hand side —>) and look forward to new content (my Elly is a Four-Letter Word columns and Song of the Week blog posts) each and every week. Hopefully, it’ll be a party at my place (well, my online place) every Tuesday.
I’m not exactly sure where this endeavor’s going to take me (although, I have a few ideas up my sleeve). All I know is that I intend to treasure my readers and subscribers by providing them with ‘hell yeah’ content week in and week out. (‘Hell yeah’ content means you read/watch/listen to it and like it so much, you say, ‘Hell yeah!’) For more about how passionate and committed I am to this, go here. For more on these free goodies, go here.
So, naturally, for this week’s Song of the Week, I’ve selected the new smash hit Treasure by Bruno Mars. This funky little tune just makes me want to get up and dance. It has a celebratory vibe, and this is a celebratory week!
If you’re feeling a little blue (and even if you’re not), this live performance of Treasure on the Jimmy Kimmel Show is guaranteed to lift your spirits:
Treasure!
That is what you are
Honey, you’re my golden star
And you could make my wish come true
If you let me treasure you
If you let me treasure YOU OOH OOH
So, my treasures, what do you think of my new venture? Don’t you just LOVE this song? Also, is there anything in particular you’d like me to write about? Leave a comment below (or email me), and I’ll do my best!
This column was first published on RSVP.com.au, Australia’s Number 1 dating website. You can view that HERE.
I started reading dating and relationships advice books from the age of 11, which I’m sure sounds extremely young, but that’s when I started liking boys. I was terribly curious, and reading about boys was far preferable to experimenting with them, where I could learn from a safe distance in the comfort of my Laura Ashley-decorated bedroom (I’m showing my age here!).
It wasn’t long before the teddy bears, board games and My Little Ponies were replaced by Girlfriend, Dolly, Cosmo, CLEO, the entire Sweet Valley Twins series (which I still have in mint condition – surely they’re worth something by now) and a collection of self-help books that indulged my boy-mad brain. Thus began a love affair with love affairs – and I wanted to be armed and dangerous for when I finally stopped reading about it and started living it (which, much to my frustration, didn’t really happen until I was 15/16 – damn private girls’ school education).
The first relationship advice book I ever read was Girltalk About Guys – Honest Answers to Candid Questions, by Carol Weston, which was published in 1988. It was brilliant. I still think it’s brilliant. I have it on my bookshelf, covered in clear contact, and will never part with it. You can still purchase one called Girltalk but, sadly, I think Girltalk About Guys is out of print. (I did see it on eBay, though!)
The book that became my bible in my early-20s was The Real Rules – How to Find the Right Man for the Real You, by Barbara DeAngelis. It was a counterattack on The Rules, by Ellen Fein and Sherrie Schneider, which was the 50 Shades of Grey of 1995 – an unexpected and controversial phenomenon, minus the sex – and encouraged women to go back to 1950s-style dating in order to land a husband. The Real Rules was published in 1997. It’s still in print, and I’d highly recommend it. It’s short ‘n’ sweet – and simply fabulous! It’s basically about cutting the BS, the games and the pretense, and getting yourself into a real, loving relationship. That’s not to say there was absolutely NOTHING to take away from The Rules but, on the whole, it preached a fairly disastrous approach to dating. Leave that one in the mid-90s where it belongs.
My adoration for Barbara De Angelis continued into another one of her books, Are You the One for Me? This is a great book for when you’re finally IN a relationship and want some guidance as to whether or not it’s likely to last. She explains why love, although an essential ingredient, is not enough to sustain a relationship long-term. She takes you through the 10 relationships that won’t work, fatal flaws and compatibility time bombs – and outlines your options. But it’s not all doom and gloom. She also takes you through what qualities to look for in a partner, and how to know when it’s “right”. (Psst: You’ll never know 100%, but you’ll have a fairly good idea after reading this book.)
I had a break from relationship advice books for a while until an absolute game-changer came along in 2004: He’s Just Not That Into You by Greg Behrendt (a Sex and the City comedic consultant) and Liz Tuccillo (a Sex and the City scriptwriter), which was later made into a movie with an all-star cast. I have a girlfriend who hates it (the book), and we argue about it all the time, but I absolutely love it. It was the book I WISHED had been written before I was a teenager – frustratingly simple advice that I was embarrassed I hadn’t known all along. Clearly, I wasn’t the only clueless one, as it was an international bestseller, and Greg was on Oprah (twice) preaching the gospel to fellow naive females. Oprah said it was “six words that will change your life”. Well, it certainly changed Miranda Hobbs’ life – the Harvard Law-educated Sex and the City character. You can catch the episode that sparked the book, Pick-A-Little, Talk-A-Little, halfway through Season 5.
He’s Just Not That Into You is a book every woman should read. Not only that, it’s a book I’m sure every MAN wishes every woman would read, as men have a tendency to do EVERYTHING and ANYTHING other than tell you they’re just not that into you in an effort to squeeze you out of their life. I’ve had men swear black and blue that if it wasn’t for their career/ recent break-up/childhood trauma/the fact that they live somewhere else (ever heard of moving?!) or the classic “I’m just not READY for a relationship right now”, we’d be together. And I believed them. Why wouldn’t I! When you’re an honest and verbal person, as I am, you take people at their word, as you expect them to take you at yours. Ladies, it’s crap. In some instances, he may not even realize it himself, but it’s crap. For whatever reason, he’s not stepping up to the plate, and that’s all you need to know. Don’t waste a second psychoanalyzing it, waiting for him or forging ahead with the relationship anyway. Take it as a flashing neon sign that he’s not “The One”, and move on. I’m able to do that now, with finesse, thanks to this book. I think one of the best lessons you can learn in relationships, and life, is to know when to move on from something that’s not meant to be.
I’d also recommend Greg’s other books, It’s Called a Break-Up Because it’s Broken (the absolute break-up bible) and It’s Just a Date! (the absolute dating bible). Great stuff. Love Greg. And guess what – he signed all three of my books when I met him, and the incomparable Janeane Garofalo, after a stand-up comedy gig at the Sydney Opera House. Sweet!
The last relationship advice book I read, which was a couple of years ago now, was Marry Him – A Case for Settling for Mr Good Enough, by Lori Gottlieb. Published in 2010, this is a good one for women who are too picky – or, more specifically, picky about the wrong things. If you’re serious about finding a life partner, it’s worth a read.
As with any advice, whether it’s a book, a course, a tip from your mother or something a friend swears by, you need to exercise good judgment. And be particularly wary of advice that says “all” men are like this or “all” women are like that. If only it were that simple. Everyone, and everything, must be treated on a case-by-case basis. So, never take anything too literally. Arm yourself with all the information you possibly can, and then act according to the situation. Be smart, and you’ll be alright.
Relationship advice books aren’t the only books that can help you with your love life. Self-help books that aim to improve you as a person will go a long way to assisting you in finding, and keeping, that special someone. Developing your self-esteem, inner peace, communication skills, anger management or spirituality will set you on the right path. Here are some of my all-time favourites for that:
Life Strategies, by Dr Phillip C. McGraw (yep, that’s Dr Phil, but I can assure you his books are way better than his talk show – this is my No. 1 favorite self-help book).
Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart, by Gordon Livingston (one of the best bits is his three-part secret to happiness: something to do, someone to love, and something to look forward to).
Do you agree with this selection? What dating & relationships advice books would you recommend, and what tips have you gleaned from them?
If you enjoyed this, I’d love it if you left a comment below, engaged with me on social media, subscribed to my email list (it’s free and you get a gift!) or shared it with others. In fact, here’s something you can cut & paste into Twitter/Facebook:
Do you agree with this list of the best dating & relationships advice books? What would you add/amend? www.ellyklein.com/best-dating-relationships-advice-books
‘Live from New York… it’s the late show with Elly Klein…’
Sorry for being so late on Song of the Week this week, all. But I have a good excuse. I’m here in New York City, and despite the fact that I’ve had a couple of major setbacks, I’m absolutely loving it.
The first setback came on the second night, when I got a violent case of food poisoning. A simple grilled cheese & tomato sandwich turned my world upside down for the next two days. I’ll spare you the details.
Just as I was feeling better, I was strolling home from a late-night cafe when I stepped off the curb, landed in a pothole and came down on my ankle like a tonne of bricks! Again, it took a couple of days to recover. It’s still really swollen, but I can walk on it.
So… Having said all that, I’m madly in love with New York. It’s even better than I remember it. It’s really hard to describe, but a vague summary would be that famous line from the Australian film, The Castle: ‘It’s just the vibe.’
I’ve rented a one-bedroom apartment in the East Village/Alphabet City (Manhattan) for the month of April. I feel so at home in this neighborhood, I dare say I’m not going to want to leave. Everything from cafes, restaurants and bars to supermarkets, pharmacies and shops are within walking distance – some no further than my little block. Many things are open 24hrs. There are people out and about at all times of the day and night. And I’ve noticed that many cafes double as offices while enterprising creatives (such as myself) work on chasing their dreams – with laptops and free wi-fi. Clearly, I’m in good company.
I’ve already made three new friends, despite having had to stay in most of the time so far. I love how you can strike up a conversation in a cafe with the person sitting next to you without looking like a weirdo. And it’s likely you’ll get chatting about something interesting and meaningful.
So, for this week’s Song of the Week, I’ve selected Got That Vibe by R Kelly, because the word ‘vibe’ is the best possible word to describe New York City. New York has got that vibe, and I’ve got New York for another three weeks – after which, plans will be made to make a permanent move.
FREE: Get my weekly column, Elly is a Four-Letter Word, the fun, yet completely biased, musical post, Song of the Week, and random goodies delivered to your inbox once a week. Plus, as a special opt-in offer, you’ll receive the ultra-cheeky Elly is a Four-Letter Word column about… ahem… well… let’s just say it’s a little risqué – and only available to subscribers.
Let’s Get Social
For Men Are Like a Box of Chocolates, the most delicious relationship advice book ever, please click on the image.
