Learning

Things I have learned in NYC:

     Hi Emily, Ann, Judi & Barbara

     1.  Backpacks do not work as a purse here.  I have to swing it off my back to sit on the bus or subway then swing it back on when exiting.  Not easy in very crowded spaces.  Across the body purses or bags work best.

     2.  If you are native to SoCal, you may not be equipped for cold weather.  Thank goodness for Emily's jacket, because it keeps me really warm.  However, when all bundled & scarved up, it isn't easy to zip.  I find I have to ask Alissa to "zipper" me up - just as her first graders at school do.

     3.   Using a Metro card is not as easy as it might look.  First there are the gloves, the awkward getting it out of somewhere, & the sliding or inserting it .  Alissa says this just sounds soooo dirty!!!!  I usually let her hold mine & produce it for me as needed.  She's such a good mom.

    4.  Then there is camping at her house.  I swear the little room with the toilet looks like an outhouse!  I managed to soak myself turning on the shower the first time - it is barely big enough to turn around.  But it's free!!!!

    That's all.  Love to everyone,  

                                    the Pirate Mom

Balloons!!!!

Smurf balloon being blown up & the next day at the parade flying down the street.  Just to the left of flying smurf, you can see a smidge of grey hair from the jerky, really tall man who pushed himself in front of us after we had been standing there an hour.  He had an equally tall friend who stood next to him.  They are in most of the pictures because they didn't move!!!!.  Fortunately, the balloons were high, & that was the best part.  We had Thanksgiving dinner in Central Park at Tavern on the Green.  They had an occupancy sign that stated there could be no more than 1,250 people at one time (or some rediculous number close to that).  It sounds like a convention hall!!  There were rooms of people all over.  The decor was amazing.  Silver and copper everywhere, huge chandeliers, sparkling trees & lights.

     Sadly, I think I lost my camera tonight along with the pictures.  We will call tomorrow, but I am not hopeful.  We were watching the Bacon Brothers sing & took a camera video for Emily, and no one knows where the camera went.  Kevin probably swiped it.

We went to see the Rockettes on Monday.  First we had hot dogs off a cart on a corner near here & I had to take a picture.  Inside, they also had hot dogs, popcorn, watery hot chocolate & expensive souvenirs.  We sat really close to the stage.  The orchestra pit raised up & down.  The dancers were fantastic.  There was a Nativity at the end with real camels, donkeys, sheep, amazing costumes.  Sadly, I think all my photos were blurry.  Maybe Alissa got some.

The Hurrier I Go...

the behinder I get.  I am soooo far behind right now, but here goes.  Felicity's workplace.  I have had 2 beverages from here & both were horrible.  The second time, it was barely warm.  I am so over this store - give me a Starbucks any time.

Now we have the tree at Rockefeller (that looks so wrong) Plaza.  It is being decorated & later in the week we saw the scaffolding coming down.  Up close, the tree looks rather wilted and sad.  But that was during the day & up really close.  It was also Wed. when we went to the Today Show & Beyonce was on.  Couldn't even get close enough to see any of her, but we did see the back of the set & got to hear a song so I'm good.  I also saw the back of Matt & Meredith & their teleprompter.

All by myself.........

   Here is a better picture of the poodle tree.   This will probably be the only picture because my laptop with all the pictures will not work tonight in the little corner of the bedroom where it will only work.  Today was much warmer - I only needed 3 layers for most of the day.  Now it is raining out.

     Alissa went off to work this morning & I headed down to Macy's alone on the subway.  This can be really claustrophobic during busy times.  Got off at Penn Station - huge place.  It took me ages just to follow exit signs & get up to street level!  Macy's wasn't open yet, but I got to see Harold Square with all the cameras getting ready for Thurs.  One of Alissa's roommates said they just unveiled their Christmas windows last night.  I think I saw them today, but I didn't even think they were very cute!  Not nearly as cute as the poodle tree!!!  I miss LuLu!!

      

Sunday at the Library

NOT!!!!  The interns are having a meeting this afternoon, so I

went to the library.  Not open on Sunday.  Of course.  I forgot my phone and metro card, so I returned to the church to sit downstairs

and do this.  Which, by the way, is about my fourth try to get it

somewhat right.

    Yesterday, at Macy's, everyone was taking pictures of this big

ball. No one could get by.  Turns out -  are you ready for this - it's

the Waterford crystal ball that drops in Times Square on New Year's Eve.  I got to see it up close - amazing!!!!

This a window at Macy's.  They were all from Miracle on 34th Street.  Some stores still had their windows covered, so I don't know if these are early or what.  It is 24 outside.  I definitely owe my warmth to Emily's jacket and Barbara's scarf and hat.  Many thanks.   The Mommy

Alissa is not alone

     The Mommy has landed, and I have pirated this blog for the next little while.  And believe me, it isn't easy to blog.  I have to sit at the end of Alissa's bed with the computer up against the wall and hurry before the connection ends.  Anyway, I had the smoothest flight ever.  This morning we had brunch at this really cute little tea shop with Becky, one of Alissa's friends back here.  

Then she walked me all over NY.  These are snowflakes at Columbus Square.  The bright white dots on the pink ones are when it snows - every 10 minutes or so.

         

We went to Macy's today - huuuuge.   It has all the stuff ours does

but 20 times more brands and styles.  The top floors still have the

original wooden escalators, and they get narrower the higher up

you go.  Really cool.  Also, I'm not sure you can tell, but that is a

POODLE tree - yes really!!!!  Tomorrow we see the Rockettes!!

                                                                             

Laundry Day!!

Doing laundry in New York is quite the experience.

I live in the ONLY hilly part of Manhattan which means that either laundry mat (there are 2 closeish) is an uphill walk not only lugging a full laundry bag but also soap, fabric softener, possibly bleach, and various things to entertain myself while I wait for 2 hours!!!!

 I don't mind doing laundry but it is such a hassle. Plus if you wait too long then you have too many clothes to carry and it's horrible. I usually do about 2-3 loads, I like to wash certain things separately, ANYWAY in one of my machines that I had started I looked over and saw my Burt's Bees Chapstick being washed.  Of course there is no way to open the washing machine and remove it so for the next 20 minutes I had to watch it and hope that the lid wouldn't pop off.

I am falling apart....

On Tuesday I had been sick for 2 weeks. I had a cold and cough that was in for the long haul. I went to the doctor after waking up Monday feeling worse than I had in the last 2 weeks.  I have an upper respiratory tract infection, so the doctor gave me antibiotics and some heavy duty cough medicine. Then Tuesday night my left eye started to become irritated and really goopy. Charming, I know. So I've been wearing glasses since then. Friday at 1:30 AM I woke up with an ear infection! I called in sick to work. Ridiculousness.

I have been resting in bed/ the apartment. It is rather boring. I watched movies, Season 1 of The Office, and I've seriously considered watching Pride and Prejudice for the 2nd time in 4 days.

 

THEN last night I had pizza for dinner. The very first bite I burned the ENTIRE roof of my mouth. It has since then all decided to peel off. 

Seriously, what is wrong with me?

I need my mommy.

Election Plaza

Last night we went to Election Plaza.

It was pretty crowed and really exciting there. NY is a blue state and every time Obama would get electoral votes the crowd would go crazy.  I got goose bumps, it was so exciting to be there on the verge of history.

Rockefeller ice skating rink that was turned in to a map of the US.
The Obama cart led the way! Whenever a candidate would get Electoral Votes the cart would go up and the numbers would change. 

We left around 10:30, when we got off the subway in Harlem people were shouting and horns were honking. We thought he won CA...we asked and we found out he WON!!!

Harlem went absolutely crazy! Earl rang the church bells at midnight for 2 minutes. I went to bed hearing people celebrating, horns honking, fireworks being set off.  It is great! America is moving forward! A black man for president! I. LOVE. IT.

This morning on my way through Harlem to work I felt the mood was happy and hopeful.

Rosa sat, so Martin could walk…
Martin walked, so Obama could run…
Obama is running, so our children can FLY!