New York City

(Kristen and myself awaiting the next subway train)

This past month has been a whirlwind of work, and play. Two weeks ago after 7 months of planning and saving I ventured off to New York City with Annette a dear friend, fellow fire wife, and 2nd mom to my kids while Tob's off saving trees each summer. After a long and nauseating plane ride we arrived safely in La Guardia airport. Kristen another fellow (future) fire wife met us at the airport bearing gifts (prepaid metro passes and maps for each of us). For those of you who have not been to the city the metro pass allowed us to use both buses and the subway system while we were there. So these were a much needed and appreciated gift. Thanks Kristen!

I loved the subway! It wasn't dark and scary with lunatics lurking around. You do see some interesting people doing some interesting things but it honestly made the ride more enjoyable. While going to work or school one could read, sleep, or finish up homework, things you can't do driving a car. Loved it!

There are 5 boroughs in NYC (Queens, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, and Staten Island). Kristen who we were visiting lives in Brooklyn. She was kind enough to share her little 400sq ft apartment with us for an entire week. The first night I caught the belly bug my family had so graciously shared with me before I left and was out of commission for our first full day of sunshine in the city. The second day though we jumped on the subway and navigated all over Manhattan. Keep in mind Kristen (an inner city high school history teacher) worked all days but one while we were there and would meet us in the evening, so we were on our own.

While out and about we.......

witnessed young men selling the Obama condom. Yep that's right. "Get your Obama condoms today." "Lubricated with hope."

We ventured to the top of the empire state building where the views were spectacular and the pigeons ever so friendly. Later I told Kristen about the exciting encounter with the bird and she said with a look of disgust "Oh please tell me you didn't, you didn't touch a pigeon did you?" Uh maybe, sort of, why? "We call those the rats of the sky."
Apparently they are dirty little critter, who knew? :-)

We met up with Kristen in the afternoon and walked all over time square, enjoying the both the Hersey's store and 3 floors of M & M world.

After Time square it was Rockefeller center.


and a small portion of Central park.

On Sunday we slept in and then headed to the Metropolitan Museum of Art which was huge to say the least. We separated about 15 minutes into the field trip and I was on my own and immersed in art work dated back over 5000 years from the next 3-4 hours. Even in that time I may have seen 1/3 of the exhibits. Afterwards we met up with Kristen's mom and aunt for dinner at the Salty dog pub in Brooklyn. What neat women.

On Monday we spent the day traipsing around liberty island and Ellis Island and then had dinner in China town at the MOST fabulous Chinese restaurant I have been too. Soup dumplings, that's all I can say. While we were there we enjoyed Thai food, pub food, Bagels (each and every morning), Italian (both NY style pizza as well as pasta) in addition to the Chinese. Lucky for us our constant walking (especially while were with Kristen, canceled out the calories consumed). Let me explain the previous comment, people from NY move fast and talk fast!

We left Wednesday afternoon in hopes of being back in our own beds, no later then midnight. That was until we were 1 1/2 hours late departing from La Guardia airport, courtesy of Delta Airlines which ultimately ended in a full on mile sprint in Dansko's through Minneapolis airport to be 6 minutes short of making our connecting flight. That landed us a night in the Ramada inn, right next to Mall Of America. As thrilling as that may sound it wasn't, but it was what it was and as the Delta employee said "You may as well make the best of it"

We arrived home 2 hours before the start of my work week, before a 12 hour long shift, with bloodshot eyes and contagious yawns. Lucky for me a co-worker worked until 11 giving me a precious 3.5 hours of needed sleep before having to face yet another week of work.

I have so many picture's, stories and memories, thanks to my dear friends who are willing to take time out of their busy lives for new adventures and to enjoy life!