Looks Like We Made It …

Well kids, here I am, one year later. Can you believe it?

The last three days I have been on my couch, sidelined with a case of strep throat. So, in addition to watching a lot of bad daytime TV, I have been thinking about what I have learned over the past year.

1. New Yorkers are generally kind and helpful people.
2. Good Mexican food only exists in Southern California (well, and Mexico).
3. Always wear a seat belt in a taxicab.
4. The ability to have everything delivered is a good thing.
5. I like a little change-up in my weather – seasons are fun!
6. Not having a car has its advantages (and disadvantages).
7. An apple you picked yourself tastes really good.
8. When running errands during the winter, wear a t-shirt under your heavy coat.
9. Central Park is fabulous any time of the year.
10. Picking up and moving across the country is totally worth it for the experience.
11. An occasional escape from the city keeps you sane.
12. The people that you love are always with you, no matter how far away they are.

So there it is! I hope you have gotten a kick out of reading my blog (and thank you for your comments) – I have enjoyed sharing my experiences with you!

I [heart] New York.

Eve

My friend Silo and I decided to escape from the city and do a little apple picking. So, we put on our migrant farm worker finest and drove to Warwick, New York.

Renting a car in Manhattan takes patience. When I showed up at Dollar Rent A Car at 10:15 am, they were out of cars. So, we waited. And we shot the shit with our fellow wannabe escapees. We went to Starbucks. And, 3 hours later, we had a car and were on our way. (It would have been 2 ½ hours, except I took pity on this girl who was in line after me, who was trying to make visiting hours at the prison where her brother was currently residing. All I can say is, thank God my sisters, Abba and Frampton, haven’t landed in prison (yet).)

Just over an hour later, we were in the sticks. And surrounded by children. So what did we do? We picked exactly 9 apples, a pumpkin (which Silo later abandon), ate some apple donuts (a total waste of calories, in my opinion – have they not heard of glaze?), and hit the “winery”. As we checked out of the orchard with our 9 apples and 4 bottles of wine, the clerk looked into our almost-empty apple bag, scoffed, and waved us through. And off we went, back to our little island of Eden.

Kingpin

Hands down, my favorite building in Manhattan is the Chrysler Building. And today, I had the pleasure of going inside and learning a little something about it.

The Chrysler Building was completed in 1930, and is still the tallest brick building in the world. (It was the world’s tallest building for a few months, until the Empire State Building came along.) References to Chrysler’s automobiles can be found in the radiator cap gargoyles (31st floor) and hood ornament eagles (61st floor).

Here is the 43rd Street entrance/exit:



And a lobby elevator:



The ceiling mural in the lobby:



And, a lower level subway entrance:

38

I just wanted to thank everyone for the calls, emails, and other birthday greetings – it meant a lot to me. (I especially appreciated those of you who sang!) You made my first New York birthday a fabulous one!

Oh, Mandy!

This weekend, two L.A. girls came to visit two former L.A. girls in NYC. And lots of eating, drinking and fun ensued.







P.S. - Tonight, I finally tried the low fat “frozen dessert” that is known as Tasti-D’lite. If you ever watched Sex and the City, you’ve heard of it. I think that I will stick to full fat desserts and get my ass to the gym more often.

Rhythm Nation

As an early birthday present, my sister, who I shall call Frampton, came for a visit all the way from San Diego.

On Frampton’s first day here, we visited the World Trade Center site, and the Trinity Church – St. Paul’s Chapel. Despite its close proximity to the site, the church endured the attacks. This is the view from the church grounds; the open space you see is where the Towers once stood.



We also checked out the Feast of San Gennaro in Little Italy. (Well, sort of. It was absolutely pouring rain, so technically, we checked out a bar in Little Italy. And picked up some (amazing) cannoli to go.)

Other highlights included a view of the Statue of Liberty by way of the Staten Island Ferry, Central Park, Times Square, and lots of dessert. (Apparently I have developed an expertise in where to get sweets in Manhattan.)





What a fabulous gift!

Yo-ho-ho!

Besides being the official kick-off of birthday week, today happens to be Talk Like a Pirate Day. Gar, where is me bottle o’rum?!?