Massachusetts I love thee!

There is a band called Guster and in one of their songs there is a line that says:

"So count the days till you give in.  Back to Massachusetts. "

I have fond feelings for Massachusetts. I've been there 3 times and have enjoyed it each time.

This weekend I went to Massachusetts with Becky and Burt. I met Burt at Grand Central and we took Metro-North to Connecticut, where Becky picked us up on her way from New Jersey. The train ride was about 2 hours and then we were in the car for another 2 or so. It was a really nice weekend. It rained most of the weekend, so we watched movies and went to the mall.  It's so nice to be with people who know you and love you. Their house backs up to the Appalachian Trail, so Sunday Becky, the 3 dogs and I all went for a walk. The leaves have just started to turn colors and I'm so excited to go back for Thanksgiving and see them in full color change. 

I love Massachusetts. This weekend confirmed that I really want to get married there, in the Fall,  specifically in Cape Cod. All I need is a tall, dark, handsome and wealthy man. 

The above picture is Connecticut. It was taken from the car and I was trying to get the Fall foliage.

Here is a lovely picture from Massachusetts. Even in the gloom it is still so pretty.

The Appalachian Trail. I'm fairly certain that Robert Frost was a frequenter of New England and their yellow woods.

Welcome to New York! The Empire State.

David Blaine...is Lame.

Last week, on Wednesday we heard from a few sources that David Blaine was hanging upside down in Central Park for 60 hours. I made my roommates go. We thought Wednesday was his final night It wasn't it on Thursday.  

This is David actually hanging upside down.

This is David doing some stretches to get the blood flowing.

This is David clearly not hanging upside down. In fact he is taking a break and drinking Ensure. This particular photo is of him urinating. Yes, above everyone on a crane.

This is David after his break.

This is Patrick and Alexie with David in the top left corner. Also we just found out we were going to be on TV!

Then Thursday night, Brian, Patrick, and I were planning on watching the "Dive of Death" on TV. It was 10:30 and we decided to go watch it live. Central Park is a 30 min. train ride, not counting walking to and from the subway. We were literally running through Central Park in hopes of making it to the 11:00 dive.

We made it just in time. This is David upside down. Right before he was pulled to the top.

This is David on the platform right before his "Dive of Death". SO then he jumped off. He was bungeed, he was also attached to a dozen huge balloons and another cable. After he jumped ("Dive of Death" phuuuuuulease) he hung there for a while until the balloons and the cable were able to pull him to behind us. People were booing him. It was pretty anti-climatic. 

Here are the balloons that he was attached to. Did they even show these on TV? Laaaaaame.

Weekend Update!

One of the great things about living in NYC is that you get free subway/subway tunnel shows.

The exhibit at The Met that I really wanted to see.

The view of Central Park and the Manhattan skyline from the roof of The Met.

The Balloon Dog. I love it!

The Balloon Dog's cute face.

Dylan's Candy Bar. 3 floors of every kind of candy, possibly ever made!

The steps are filled with candy!

Serendipity, just like from the movie. The place is so cute! Rebekah, you will love this place!

Frrrrrozen Hot Chocolate. Yum! ( I don't know why it is underlined like it is a link!)

I forgot...

I forgot to mention on Saturday when I was walking around with Jacque that some pigeons were flying very close to us and one brushed my hand. SO gross. I immediately took out my hand sanitizer and took a shower with it.

Weekend Update With Birthday!

FRIDAY

I went and explored Columbus Circle. It is this fancyish mall. It has some nice stores a Borders with a Dean and Delucca (anyone ever watch Felicity?) and the whole basement level is a Whole Foods.  I hung out there for a while. Had a coffee, did some shopping. Here is a picture from the 2nd floor that looks out onto the circle that has a big fountain. Looking at a map later I found out that it borders Central Park. It started to rain on my way home. It would of course because I was wearing flip flops like usual and still didn't buy and umbrella yet.

Saturday

I met Jacque and we had tea and scones at this cute British tea place. Then we walked around, she showed me where the famous Magnolia Bakery is and where the Friends building was. Well...the building they used for their shots at least. We walked around a ton, then I met Patrick at The Strand.  This big, amazing used bookstore. It has tons of levels and tons of used books.  Then I went and bought some food from a different Whole Foods and ate by myself. When you live in California, you most likely have a car, so you can eat in your car or drive somewhere else and eat. In NY I am learning to eat by myself, in public and not feel so strange about it. I was really hungry so it wasn't too bad. Then I went into a Filene's Basement, which is a lot like a Nordstroms Rack. I found a really cute winter coat that I really wanted, but they didn't have it in my size. So I walked who knows how far because I knew there was another one in the general area. They didn't have it either. I did however, buy an umbrella! I really needed to do laundry and go to Target, so I headed home. When I got home I decided to wait...there was a Yankee game and Mets game around 7. I waited for my roommate, Brian to get home to see if he was interested in going to one. He was! So we quickly walked to the subway, hopped on and bought tickets off a scalper in the subway tunnel. It may have been as sketchy as it sounds. We were in the last row of left field. It was fun and I know it made a lot of people jealous because after 50 years they are tearing the stadium down after this season.

The Friends building.

Yankee Stadium

We were sitting right by the NY sign. We had to move a few times so people could take pictures in front of it.

The bullpen. Right in front of the bleacher seats.

The back of the memorial in center field. 

Sunday - My Birthday!

I woke up this morning and Brian and Patrick had taped cards they made for me to my door. I went to church and then hopped on a train to New Jersey, where I spent the day with Becky. We had lunch and shopped. Good news! I got my coat! At a Filene's Basement in New Jersey. We did some more shopping and then I did some laundry at her house. Then I hopped on a train for Penn Station. I received many wonderful cards and packages in the mail. I felt very loved. 

Never in my 26 years have I spent a birthday away from family. It was hard and a little sad at times, but it was a pretty good day. I have also never spent my birthday in 2 different states on the same day, so that was kind of neat too.

September 11

This morning at 4:45 our apartment was awoken to a loud beeping noise. My first thought was UGH my alarm. Then I realized it was too dark to be getting up. I put on my glasses and a jacket and made my way down the hall. The smell of smoke greeted me. Patrick was over the stove removing a pan. No one knew what was going on. The beeping stopped, the stove was turned off and we all went back to bed.
3 hours later we found out that someone (she shall remain nameless) was cooking rice and fell asleep. The burning rice was what woke us all up.
When I walked out the front door the police station was ready to have their roll call remembrance ceremony. Then our church bells rang from 8:50-10:00. I didn't hear them, I was already off to work. As I walked past the fire station on my way to work, there were firefighters in their dress outfits.
After work I walked home.

Lunch

At the school I work at I get free lunch.

Some days it is delicious and some days I opt for the safe PB&J sandwich.

But everyday I eat with a spork.

Weekend Update!

My first weekend alone in the Big Apple.

Friday

I got home from work early on Friday and none of my roommates were home. I took a nap and a shower. Still no one was home. I was starting to get anxious, thinking that I was going to be on my own. Turned out 2 were out of town, one didn’t come home from work so I basically was on my own. So what did I do on a Friday night in the city? BARNES AND NOBLE. Can’t go wrong and it pretty much felt like any other Friday night. Except this one is 4 stories and has a basement level. Ahhhh glorious. I was there a few hours and then headed home. Against my mom’s well wishes I came home alone at night. GASP! When I got home my 2 remaining roommates wanted to head out for a drink. We went to this quaint bar that was deathly hot inside. When we left for the evening it was raining outside. So we ran to the subway stop. Of course I was wearing Rainbow flip flops.

Saturday

Becky came up from New Jersey for the day. She was also visiting another friend who lives about 4 blocks from me. So the 3 of us spent the day together. It was by far the hottest day here. The humidity was ridiculously high. We headed out eat lunch and the tropical storm started. We ran for cover, to where else? B&N. I love my life. We ended up eating there and spending a few hours there hiding out from the storm. Then we headed back in the pouring rain to Shannon’s apartment. Again, I was wearing always appropriate rain footwear, Rainbows. When we actually got there we were absolutely soaked. The really bad part is that it was still SO hot. Sweaty and rain soaked is never a good combo. I can’t wait for fall! The 3 of us ate junk food, listened to music and watched When Harry Met Sally. Such a great New York movie. Then the girls walked me home, by then it had stopped raining.

Sunday

After church 3 of us when downtown. I’m not really sure which streets constitute “downtown” so I’m just referring to streets much further south. We did lots of window shopping and just walked around. We were going to go to Central Park and relax and read a bit but it was getting late so we went to, get ready….B&N. FAN-tastic! 4 days is a row (We had a roommate meeting on Thursday at one too). Sunday night when all of us were home we played Pictionary. And by Pictionary I mean that we took turns drawing things for the other roommates to guess.

Our Apartment

This is our front door (from the inside). Very New York.
This is our kitchen with 2 mini fridges and 2 range stovetop.
The view from my bedroom. Lovely.
This is our stairwell. There is one step that is going to break anyday. Patrick has promised the person who breaks it $ 30. I still step over it.
The view from our dining room window. They drained the pool on Monday. No more lifegauards or children yelling until next summer. This is also the windowsill that I use as my desk. It gets the best internet reception. It also has the best breeze.
Our living room. We have a T.V.!
Our bathroom.
Our rooftop access. The latch is practically directly above the shower.
Our pantry, couch and calendar. Patrick has also written out our chores for the next month. 
My bedroom from the hallway.
One side of my room.
From the other side. Not much to see. Room by Ikea. Stuffed poodle from my aunt. :o)
View from our front door.
Our dining room table. Taken from the front door.

Labor Day Weekend Pictures

Here is the water taxi that takes you to Ikea!
The Lady from the Stanton Island Ferry
The glorious island of Manhattan from the Stanton Island Ferry.
The Brooklyn Bridge