Second Half of 2022 Recap


Hello again! I've been trying to keep up with this blog, but I've been so busy lately. Since I've been so behind on updates, I figured I'd recap the second half of 2022.


July 2022: My Freelance Job At A Newspaper
Later in July (shortly after BroadwayCon), I applied for a job at a company that owns "local" newspapers in South Jersey (but not local to me). Even though I originally applied to be a full-time reporter, the Managing Editor basically handed me a freelance position and I couldn't say no. I was kind of desperate at this point and the pay was decent. I'm not gonna lie, this job gave me a little bit of anxiety. I had to call/email people for a story not knowing if they'll respond, and it was stressful. Luckily, the Managing Editor was really nice and I talked to some really genuine people. In the past, I only worked for a newspaper doing legal ads, and it felt really good to be a reporter this time. Sometimes, the stress was worth it. I covered all different kinds of stores, and the experience will definitely benefit me in the future. Here are some of my articles if anyone cares to read them!

September 2022: My 30th Birthday In NYC

In the year 2022, I was dreading turning 30 more than anything. My career hasn't been in a great place, and I just didn't want to be that old. The hardest part of having a milestone birthday is figuring out what to do that day, especially when you have a twin sister and sometimes disagree on things. I'm very lucky that my 30th birthday fell on a Saturday, because it was easier to make plans. My sister and I decided to get tickets to see Lea Michele in Funny Girl a little over a month before our birthday, and DAYS BEFORE we found out she had COVID. So long story short, we eventually got the money back (like a month later) and decided to see Wicked instead. We realized that we've both seen the show, but not together. It was an amazing experience that I will never forget, and we had great seats. It's very different seeing the show at 11 years old vs. 30 years old, but the feeling is definitely the same, no matter who is in the cast. We had dinner with the rest of our family after, and I couldn't have thought of a better way to spend our birthday. (We still never rescheduled Funny Girl, but we're working on that!)

October 2022: My Long-Awaited Debut on Watch What Happens Live
Other than being a theater fan, everyone who knows me knows that I'm OBSESSED with Bravo. I have been applying to be an audience member on Watch What Happens Live for YEARS. Even when I thought it would never happen, I kept trying. One day, I got the email I had been waiting for to attend a taping of WWHL. I was originally asked to go to a taping for Melissa Etheridge and Rachel Maddow, but since I didn't answer soon enough, it got closed out. Luck was on my side once again, and I went to a taping for Anne Hathaway and Victoria Beckham instead (who were better guests anyway!) My sister came with me, and the whole experience was just incredible. My older sister had already gone a few years ago with a friend, so I was glad it was finally our turn. No one was more deserving of this experience than I was, and I'm not going to even apologize for saying that. We walked in and got two free drinks, then we went into the studio and some of the audience members volunteered to ask Andy questions (not me because I was terrified). At one point, the person next to me asked him a question and he was looking right at me, so of course I died. We also got to see Anne and Andy walk in and out of the studio, which was cool. Anne is so gorgeous in person and SO NICE. I had to keep this a secret for about a week and a half until it aired on Bravo, which was really hard to do. I don't know if I'll ever be on WWHL again, but I can't believe that I was even given this opportunity and finally made my Bravo debut!

October 2022: My BravoCon 2022 Experience
On our 30th birthday, my sister and I decided to spontaneously buy a Sunday Day Pass to BravoCon 2022 in October (RIP MY WALLET). It was at the Javits Center, which I've never been to before. To say this was a crazy experience is an understatement. We started off the day filming a Vanderpump Rules parody video (which came out like shit), took some photos, then waited in line to meet Melissa Gorga and Jackie Goldschneider from RHONJ and take a picture with them. Jackie was nice, but Melissa was kind of standoffish. Oh well. There was a surprise appearance from Joe Gorga on the photo opp line, and he took a selfie with us. Then, we made it just in time for the Southern Charm panel. I loved seeing all the cast members, but even the VIP tickets were a rip-off because the seats for the panels were blocked by poles and speakers.

Next, we waited in line to meet Lindsay Hubbard, Carl Radke, and (another surprise) Andrea Denver from Summer House. They were all so nice and gorgeous in person! Carl and Andrea were so sweet and of course I was DYING because I love them. We weren't sure if we'd have any time to eat lunch (because the schedule was so packed) but we had about a half hour to eat before the Real Housewives Vacations panel. I was so excited to see Luann de Lesseps, Kyle Richards, and Kenya Moore from RHUGT even though the panel was okay. The best part was when Luann spilled secrets from all the RHONY girls trips! Afterward, we browsed the Bravo Bazaar which really had nothing, and went to the Real Housewives Families panel. Teresa Giudice, her daughter Gia, and husband Luis were in it, along with Dolores, Frank, and Frankie Catania. When the panel was over, Dolores and Frank stopped to meet some fans, and we got photos with them. Frank let us retake our selfie because I was too short to fit in the original one, LOL.

Then, we headed over to meet Jill Zarin, who wasn't the nicest. She just seemed checked out and not wanting to be there or meet fans. I split from my sister who wanted to meet the Manzos to attend the RHOC panel, but I ended up leaving before it even started because I was annoyed with the whole seating situation. I'm glad I did because the Manzos had a really short line, and Caroline, Albie, and Chris were the NICEST people we met at BravoCon (aside from Frank Catania). After, we had a little bit of time left and were able to catch about half of the RHOC panel, then went home. It was an exhausting day, and I'm not sure if I'll attend BravoCon next year but we will see!

November 2020: I Finally Get A Full-Time Job
Most of the time when I make a birthday wish, it's rare that it actually comes true, but this year it did. Out of the blue, my Lead Editor from ScreenRant decided to promote me full-time as a Reality TV Editor. The pay isn't great and neither is the time-off policy (and having to work on weekends occasionally), but my job search is FINALLY over for now!!! I don't get insurance from the company either, and I am taking care of all that. I have to admit, I really do like the job. I get to work from home, I have decent hours, and I like reading some of the articles and helping writers with their progress. I haven't had a job that I've really been interested in ever, so I'm just going to enjoy this time and be grateful that I don't have to worry about finding a job. I do miss writing, but it can be exhausting and I'm happy to use my talents in a different way. I liked being a writer for ScreenRant and it got me through a difficult time. I'm lucky to be able to stay with the company and grow my editorial career. Of course, I had to leave my freelance positions at BroadwayWorld and the newspaper, but it was the right time for me to move forward with my career.

I ended the year 2022 with a cruise to the Bahamas, and even won a champagne bottle at a raffle. I'm so grateful that 2022 brought me so many incredible memories that I will cherish forever. I'm looking forward to seeing what 2023 brings! ðŸ’œ

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