The final post: Dear Don Draper

The ad outside of my apartment, how suiting.

Dear Don Draper,

As I write my final post in dedication to you, I sit on my window sill staring out towards the Empire State building, just as you did from your Madison Avenue corner office window. I write to you with appreciation... an appreciation for creating a yearning within me to pack up and move out to New York - the city where dreams are made of. I have found out while I was here there is really nothing I can't do.

I have stunned friends and family with the lifestyle I have made for myself here...hiding away in a fabulous Park Avenue apartment oasis, making friends from all over the world with a myriad of personalities, and purely  living it up.

Mr. Draper, you opened my eyes to a new industry. Never did I think about working in the advertising business and although I am not in the creative department, where you reigned, I tested my limits in planning grandiose events to replicate the lifestyle you had. I refreshed people's memory of David Ogilvy, a man of whom you admired but held as stiff competition. While advertising may no longer be my long term career goal, it is what brought me to this concrete jungle, this haven of mad men.

As I sift through the photos of the last 6 months of my life, I am even in awe of myself. The glorified people I have met, the characters I have encountered, and lastly the friends I have made have all helped create a beautiful memory.

What may have been the craziness of the big apple for you evolved over the decades into the chaos of gotham for me. However, we both lived hectic lives and New York City never slowed down for either of us. And while you had commitment issues with Birdie, I have commitment issues with living in one place.

So, as I move to the bigger city of Shanghai, I leave New York City with confidence and pride that I conquered this metropolis, and I truly believe that if I can make it here, I can make it anywhere. Thank you Don Draper for bringing me to this realization. I have had the time of my life.

Sincerely,

Cassie Chaos

PS. The fun ain't over yet. The next chapter has just begun...
http://chaosEXPOsed.blogspot.com


To my true friends, you know who you are - I want to thank you for riding the adventure with me - you are all so amazing and New York would not have been the same without you. You will forever be in my memories. 

CassiPad.

If you're a friend of mine on Facebook, you'd know that I was contemplating getting an iPad. After thinking for a month, visiting the apple store plenty of times, and researching online I knew I wanted one. I was especially thinking about my backpacking trip in Asia. At 1.5 pounds I knew that the ipad was perfect for backpacking. I would have a bunch of books, a way to upload my photos and post on my blog!! However, my parents told me that it was too dangerous to bring abroad. With that in mind I decided to wait on my purchase.

These past two days, I was working at our conference in Times Square where I was even more tempted to buy an ipad because one was being raffled off but I was not eligible to win! I even talked with my coworkers about buying one and they kept egging me on to get one. Funnily enough a lot of my friends on Facebook said not to get one. My cousin even said "you'll just have to return it later". Little did i know that after work today when i visited that same cousin 2 blocks away at work that he would approach me with a big brown box. I was confused at first, then he said it was my grad present. I didn't want to guess that it was an ipad because Annabelle and i had too high of expectations for our intern farewell presents (praying to get iPads). I opened the box slowly and voilà. My prayers were answered. I almost cried. My cousin got plenty of pictures of my excitement.

Yayyyyy!!!

Just got the brown box from Ryan.

Opening the brown box, expecting shoes...

AHHHH! It's an iPad! 

You tricked me, Ryan!

Woohoo!

Posted from my iPad!

I Hold the Key to the City

Two more weeks left in the city where dreams are made.  Last week, I was bestowed the "key to the city" by the Mayor.  Just kidding, but I was bestowed a "key to the city" by my intern! There is a new art project in NYC called... "Key to the City" resembling the real key to New York city that Mayor Bloomberg holds.  This art project begins with a ceremony for two people to exchange keys, unlocking several doors, safe-boxes, gates, etc around the 5 boroughs - Manhattan, Brooklyn, Staten Island, Bronx, and Queens.

The real Key to the City.

My idea was to unlock everything in the guidebook, however, I think it's proven more difficult that I imagined. I have only unlocked one thing... a box on a lamp post in Bryant Park...and to turn on and off the light. Fun! While each thing is very random, I feel like a part of the City (if all the other things I've done haven't made me feel this way, ha!)

There was a cute little ceremony in the middle of Times Square where you bestow they key to a friend, partner, stranger, etc and why. Mine was to my "little apprentice" Maria. There is a gated patch of turf in the middle of Broadway where you sign the huge book of participants and recite a little note...

The ceremony in the middle of Times Square.

Turning on and off the lamp in Bryant Park.

While I may not visit every site, I know that I will make an effort to go to the Mayor's house next, next Wednesday (only open one day of the week), and open his master bedroom closet. Yes, the key opens his closet. Ha!

On Wednesday night, I met up with my movie promoter friend at Tenjune since he had Jonah Hex private screening passes for me.  I didn't realize the number people that are out on Wednesday night! This truly is the city that never sleeps.  I guess I've been such a hermit these past few weeks that I didn't realize it. Anyway, I got 4 screening passes...  Sadly, the movie sucked! I wasn't expecting it to be any good as Rotten Tomatoes' reviews were 0% of 100%... it didn't really leave room for optimism.  After an hour and half of boredom, my friends and I decided to hop over to "Karate Kid" as it was starting in 30 minutes.  Can I just say it was FABULOUS. No one ever believes me when I say that, but they just have to watch it themselves.  Yeah, people complain that it's not Karate per se, but that's not the point.  The story line is about a kid who wants to learn Kung Fu, and he does.  Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan were amazing in it.

No                                                          Yes

Last night, I went with my friends to an outdoor movie in Washington Square park, a nice pastime to enjoy the summer nights. It was a french film hosted by the french embassy called "huit femmes" or "8 women".  It was hilarious and I was surprised how much french I understood.

Another highlight of my week was getting cheap shoes! I love knowing people in retail! I got 75%+ off of shoes! The pair on the left were in Cosmopolitan magazine... and I got them for $40 (originally $120, lots of discounts!)

Not much else happened this week, I actually avoided film sites due to the really hot weather.  Our AC was broken too for the week, so it was deathly hot in our apartment, considering we are so high up too  and heat rises!

Hopefully I have more adventures in the next two weeks!