The Upper East Side has been pretty torn up for most of the time I’ve lived here because of the Second Avenue Subway project , which is creating a second subway line along the east side of Manhattan. There’s no doubt that there has been a need for the project since the 4,5,6 subway lines are some of the busiest in the city during rush hour. In fact, the project was initially proposed in 1929. Let me repeat, 1929! You mean to tell me that New Yorkers had a need for a second line on the east side in 1929 and no ground was broken on the project until the 2000’s? Yep, that’s exactly what that means. Of course there were some valid reasons why the project was delayed. 

The first time around, it was the Great Depression. Priorities tend to change when the economy plummets and this project was quickly put on hold. By the time 1945 rolled around the city was ready to go into planning mode on the project again, but not much progress was made until approval of bond acts in 1951 and 1967. Once passed though, the city decided again to put the project on hold and use the money for other uses on the system. 

The most recent pick-up of the project was approved in 2005 when New York State passed the Transportation Bond Act. The ground-breaking ceremony took place in 2007 and after further delays, construction has been going strong since spring of 2010 with an expected finish date of sometime in 2016. I won’t hold my breath on that date if the project’s past is any sign of it’s future though!

Nonetheless, the construction works have been going at it hard everyday to finally make the project a reality and ease some of the east side’s metro stress. You can hear the dynamite going off every now and then, but other than a mess being made of second avenue, you can’t really actually see what’s going on with the project. That was until now thanks to Fast Company! Here is a look at what is going on down under!

My prayers have finally been answered! I am VERY excited to announce that after a 17 year absence, country music has RETURNED to the city! Yes, yes, yes! You chave no idea how excited this makes me!!!! No amount of exclamation points can convey the emotion I felt when I first turned on my radio and changed the station to 94.7. Thank you, thank you, thank you NASH FM for bringing country back to the city!

Call me old-fashioned, but there’s something about getting away from all of the Internet radio stations, iTunes, and Spotify and just turning on the radio! I definitely love the modern versions as well, but no online country station can fill the void of having a real radio station that plays all of the new songs and keeps you updated on the industry. No longer do I have to visit Long Island to get a small dose of a country station! Now a little taste of home is just an on switch away and I absolutely could not be happier about it! 

I have a confession. A pretty obvious one at that for anyone who has talked to me or spent any time with me in the last year. I have an apartment problem. I cannot stop looking at listings! There, I said it. The first step is admitting you have a problem right?!

Seriously though, it has been quite the obsession in my life over the last year and on overload for the last 6 months. I wake up thinking about apartments, check listings while I eat my lunch, and spend my evenings scouring the Internet for the latest deal (not sure that’s quite the right word) or just the apartment I’ve convinced myself would be the perfect place for me to live. This isn’t even including all of the time I’ve spent looking at decor ideas I’ve pinned away on my Pinterest account! Don’t let me forget to mention the list I created of items I need to buy — categorized by room of course.. and the stash of things I’ve ALREADY bought, but am waiting to use until I move! I’ve dug myself deep on this one. Go big or go home right? 

The worst part about my little issue is that I really can’t even really start looking for real for another few weeks. Dang you fast turnover and immediate availabilities! Where are my August 1st or end of July apartments? Every day I have to give myself a pep-talk about patience. I can do it.. I can do it.. I CAN be patient. Really I can! …. No, no I can’t.. I’m going back online to see if any new apartments have been posted! New day, rewind and repeat!

It’s madness, I know. On the bright side though, If PR and social media don’t work out for me.. Maybe my research of the NYC real estate market will be an easy transition? You know it’s gotten really bad when YOU know more about the market and prices in each area of the city better than some of the brokers you’ve met with. True story.

So in conclusion dearest friends, family, and co-workers, please have a little patience with me over the next month and a half because I only see this issue progressing (if that’s even possible). Please know that you aren’t alone in this insanity.. I’m driving EVERYONE crazy! Love you all! ;-)