NYC Day 2

We slept in fairly late and didn't head out until around 1:00. LOTS of walking today because many bus routes and sidewalks were closed due to the parade.

Typical 'Upper East Side' apartment; most times the entire floor is all one large apartment

We took the bus to 5th Avenue and walked many blocks right along the edge of Central Park (no leaves this time of year) to get to the St Patrick's Day Parade. It is supposedly a HUGE deal in NY. People come from all over- I saw paraders representing Florida and Louisiana and all the states surrounding NY as well (NJ, CT, etc). Saw lots of crazy people all over the place! Silly green hats, people dressed and painted in green were everywhere.

The door dudes were watching the parade while they 'worked'

Are you kidding me? I don't know if I'm more surprised about the built in 3 foot tall leprechaun on the suspender dudes shoulders or the guy with the 6 in high flat top wearing a purple sweatsuit
Also, notice the green trees in the background. These were the only green trees I saw the entire time I was in NY, all other trees had lost their leaves already; I don't know what the deal is with these few trees, maybe they never lose their leaves.

The parade itself was actually fairly redundant. It consisted mostly of NYFD and NYPD officers- rows and rows of them, their different bagpipe companies, which is apparently quite common back east, lots of little Irish dancing troupes, and many school bands. One thing I am curious about: do we have a Phoenix Bagpipe Co that is part of the police department? Interesting stuff.

Lots and lots of these dudes with their fancy white gloves on

Dancing their jig

Playing their little Irish flute thing

Crazy costume, huh?!

We watched for a while, maybe an hour or so and then watched as we walked up 5th Avenue which was pretty much the entire parade route- a lot of walking. At one point we were in front of The MET (The Metropolitan Museum of Art) and I looked up on top of the buildings and there were sharpshooters up there. They musta been lookin' for trouble. :)

Here's a pic of The MET- the outside is under construction but the building itself is very intricate and beautiful

The guys on top of the building were looking through their binos the whole time

We met up with one of Ang's friends, Layne, and her friend, Lauren. We walked around The Plaza Hotel, 5th Avenue stores, then Rockefeller Center and then headed to Times Square. My feet were hurting so badly and a large blister was forming on my heel- we found a Payless shoe store. I don't think I have been in a Payless for years but I was able to get some better shoes. We split off from the other girls and we then went to the Empire State Building. I didn't really think it was anything spectacular, but Angela and I agreed that maybe I should have seen it at night when it was all lit up. It didn't seem that much taller than the other buildings because ALL the buildings seem sooooo tall and they are all basically hooked together. We walked around many stores around Times Square and had tons of fun.

The Plaza Hotel- When Carlee was browsing through my pics she stopped on this one and said, "Mom, is this a picture of The Tipton?!!!!" I had to burst her bubble and tell her that it was just a similar hotel, not the real Tipton

Trump Tower (on 5th Ave)- nothing super spectacular

Rockefeller Center

Notice the green and white balloons to the left by TGIFridays. Everyone was celebrating St Patrick's Day!

Us on the red steps in Times Square, the Diet Coke sign ruins the entire picture :)

My hands, nose and ears were freezing though. Ear muffs needed! Even inside my ears were freezing. We hopped on the subway for home with very hungry stomachs (we packed sandwiches and cookies and had eaten them earlier in the day). We made fajitas for dinner and chatted for a while. After midnight, while Ang was working on a paper, I was on the computer and found that Julia Roberts was going to be on the Regis and Kelly show the next day. We decided we would get up very early and head over to the stand-by line. More about that on my day 3 report.

Memorial Day 2009

We do the same general thing every year on our Memorial Day trip to Clint's Well area... play cards and games, ride the toys, play baseball and wiffle ball, go to the cave, collect geodes, play in the fire, eat, read, sleep... This year my mom kept Cloee because her lungs were sick and she couldn't handle the altitude and it's a good thing because she would've been a mess trying to play in all the mud from the tons of rain we got.

Me and Allen

Cade grabbin' a drink

Allen and the kids playing cards

Posing as we hunt for geodes

Cade was putting geodes in every pocket he had

Even his back pockets

He was very weighed down as he walked but he didn't mind a bit

Carlee was sneaking a peek at me while I was resting on a rock so I grabbed the camera and snapped a pic

The geode hunt is on

Man it was hot and I was about done at this point

The kids climbed up on this hill and then yelled for us to take a picture of them

The kids are standing right next to a dead half eaten animal (it's right by the tree, I think it was a deer)

Yep that's me crouched down in the back- some areas of the cave are tiny

We love the cave- go there every year even though we've been there a bunch of times already

Our Home Sweet Home Away From Home (the hauler on the right)

NEW YORK CITAAAAY!

Day 1
Monday

My best friend, Angela, has been living in Manhattan for 2 years now, attending Columbia University and getting her Masters there. I was going to go visit her and go to her graduation in May but decided graduations are boring and I would much rather spend time with her touring around so I went and visited her during her spring break. I had the most amazing time ever. I don't know if any trip will ever compare to that one.

Each night before going to sleep I quickly jotted down some things about our day. I am so glad I did that because there is no way I could remember all that we did and all that I felt while I was there.

Monday morning (March 16th) was crazy. I went to sleep around 1 am and got up at 2:45am and left my house at 3:15am. Luckily Cassidy was on spring break so she stayed the night and was home with the kids while Will took me to the airport. My flight to Chicago left at 5:15am.

Even taking this early flight didn't get me to NY until like 6pm. Will wanted me to take the earliest flight possible so I wouldn't be getting there really late at night when it was dark.

So, I was sitting on the plane, before it even took off, thinking how uncomfortable I was and I didn't know how I was going to survive a flight for over 5 hours. Well when we landed just over 3 hours later I realized there was a 2 hour time difference and so I wasn't really going to be on that same plane for 5 hours straight. Thank goodness! But then in Chicago I changed planes and left shortly thereafter on the 2 hour flight to NY. I was hoping I'd get some zzzzz's on either flight but unfortunately both flights were fully booked and were so noisy I wasn't able to sleep at all.
When I got off the plane in NY I didn't really know what to expect but it wasn't at all what I thought it would be. I got my luggage and headed out to the curb where I was catching the bus. Every single person waiting around was smoking. I guess I didn't expect that. I got on the bus and it was jam packed. I had to stand 55 of the 65 minute ride with my giant suitcase right in front of me and it was halfway blocking the aisle so people were getting upset when they would get on the bus. I kept thinking, "too bad, offer me your seat and I could sit and get this suitcase outta the way of everyone." No one was polite enough to do that. Jerks! It was a crazy ride. The bus kept bottoming out- I thought I was gonna lose the ground beneath my seat on each large bump but thankfully never did. I'm still surprised about that one. I also couldn't believe we didn't get into one accident. That bus driver was a crazy lad! I went through Harlem and couldn't believe the type of people that were getting on the bus. Another cute blond girl and I were getting a bit scared. People totally stared at us and our fancy and REAL Coach purses as we clutched them tightly to our breasts.
I finally made it to 110th and Broadway- I think it was around 6pm. I was just in awe when I stepped off the bus. First of all I was so excited to see Angela but in addition to that I was so excited to see everything there. She said something about the subway and I was so confused because I didn't see the subway anywhere. She told me how they were underground and the entrance to get down there were in the ground so I probably didn't even notice them. That is so true- I didn't notice them at all. In fact I never saw the entrances unless I was actually looking for them.
We went to her apartment to put my luggage down and I didn't really have any thoughts about what her apt would look like but it definitely didn't look like any apts I had ever been in before. It was really cool.

You open a door and inside it is the elevator, it was so different than the elevators I am used to seeing in office buildings and such. The elevator was teeny. I was a little stunned by its small size but then I realized there was really no need for it to be any bigger. It was super cute.

This is the front of her apartment building. Super detailed, I loved it! These are the front doors and then there is another set of doors that you have to have a key in order to get in.

We sat and chatted for a LONG time and I just really loved that. I was also able to relax a little bit too. After a little bit we decided to go to Times Square. I was excited for my first subway ride. Thankfully And was there to help me buy my subway pass because I was just observing and taking it all in so my brain wasn't really working correctly. We walked got off the subway and walked up the steps and when I stepped out and saw Times Square I got an amazing feeling. It was excitement running through my veins. It was so amazing. I loved the lights and all the hustle and bustle. What in the heck were all these gazillions of people doing out and about on a Monday night at 11pm? Restaurants are open really late and grocery stores and markets are open 24 hours, so if you need some rhubarb or a Fleet enima at 3 am and you are in NYC then you are in luck!
Vegas you are nothing compared to New York City for NYC is truly the city that never sleeps!

Times Square

We walked around a little bit, went in the M&M's and Hershey stores and then I started getting really hungry. We stopped by a few restaurants and checked out menus only to realize we didn't want to spend a fortune on a meal on my first night there. We hopped back on the subway and ended up at the market right around the corner from Angela's apartment. I absolutely loved the market! It was so dang cute. I loved that all the produce was outside. Every time we passed it I just wanted to grab an orange or some other fruit and chomp it right up. It lured you right into the store.

(This pic was taken a few mornings later)

We ended up grabbing some already prepared food- pasta I think. This was pretty amazing. Almost all the food there was already prepared. Pasta dishes, couscous concoctions, veggie medleys, desserts galore including all types of puddings and jellos and cakes and pies. They had dips and salsas and other appetizers as well. And the best part of all was the salad 'bar'. You just pick your greens and then they put it in a wooden salad bowl and then you have a ton of ingredients to choose from and they put it in the bowl, toss it, add your dressing of choice (there are about 30 to choose from) and they put it in a plastic to-go bowl and then you pay by weight. It usually cost me about $7-$8 and I could eat the salad for more than one meal. I loved it! And the nice thing was that it wasn't a salad bar where the whole world had access to it and could introduce all their germs into the beets or artichoke hearts- it was just one person behind the counter and they kept it very neat and clean. I'm salivating just thinking about it.
We went home and ate it and I was so dang tired- I went to bed around midnight NY time but 9pm in Phx. Sleep was much needed not only because my early morning and long flight but especially because every night after that we went to bed close to 2am. My first day was fabulous and I couldn't wait for my second day!!!

Matching Jammies

Ashleigh (left) and Cloee taking a bottle break at Grammy's house

Cloee and Ashleigh playing at Grammy's

Some down...more to go

I did some updating. Check my other blogs too...

www.carleerose.blogspot.com
www.williamcade.blogspot.com
www.cloeemae.blogspot.com

Cassidy Visits Dr

When we were in California this past January my mom and I drove up to LA because Cassidy had a follow up appointment with the doctor that removed the tumor that was growing at the bottom of her skull.
I was honored to meet the old man. He was delightful and was just beaming when he saw Cassidy. Although she was still down that her face isn't back to 'normal' he understood her feelings. (My mom and I were a little embarrassed because we didn't want him to think that he didn't do a great job and that she wasn't pleased.) He did a fantastic job and she continues to have slight improvements each day.
Even though the doctor is known all over the world and quite possibly is THE best at what he does he shows no signs of egotism. He just beamed at Cassidy and said he would never forget her- she had one of the largest tumors he'd ever removed. I can't say how pleasant he was to be around and even though I've said it a million times he was just so pleased with Cassidy's progress. Without all the blessings and prayers I am sure she wouldn't be doing nearly as well.
Since the tumor grew into her ear canal he had to cut out part of the canal and rebuild it. He put a little thing in her ear and looked through it and at the same time it projected up on a screen so Cassidy, my mom, and I could see what he was seeing. We could see the part he rebuilt. It was so interesting. He said everything looked really great.

No one said anything funny, he is just beaming because he is so proud of her results! Look at his arm around her shoulder, not many docs would do that.

I desperately need to update my blog.

And I am so addicted to Grape Crush soda. My blood gets so happy as I take that first sip. I can feel it giggle in my veins. This addiction does not help my extra tummy roll that I want gone in the worst way.

Cloee

While I was in New York having a great time, Will and my mom had to spend a night at the hospital with Cloee.

I guess she just suddenly started having a really hard time breathing while Will was at a meeting at the church. He took her home and my mom met him there with the breathing machine that they had left in her car earlier that day. They gave her some back to back breathing treatments at home but it didn't help a bit. They could tell Cloee was really struggling to breathe but didn't exactly know what was wrong with her. I'm so glad Will and my mom thought to call my friend Tara who is a pediatric ICU nurse. After hearing Cloee struggling to breathe just through the phone- she could tell it was bad and she told them to take her straight to the ER. Once they got to the ER they found out thatthe treatments weren't working because it wasn't her lungs- it was her upper airway (like the throat area). So she had a couple Racemic treatments (inhaled epinephrine) and steroids to open her up and then sent her home, even though she still wasn't breathing super great. So Will and my mom slept for a few hours and then got up and took her to the pulmonologist... more steroids and Zithromax for tonsillitis. I think she just had a croup type of thing. Poor baby girl! It's so scary when your child can't breathe.
(It's almost 2 weeks later and her upper airway still sounds crappy- where's an epi pen when you need one? Geez!)
During all the craziness I felt terrible because I was on the other side of the US- but I knew they could take care of it. Thanks to having a great mom and a husband who panics and calls his mother in law! :)

30th Birthday Party!!!

Happy 30th Birthday To Me!

You can't see since it is turned backwards but the hat Will is wearing says: 'Bet mines longer than yours'
and the bill of the hat is super long... Funny guy!
Just the three of us all masked up!!
My older sister Tiffany on the left and younger sister Tricia on the right

Will and my sisters threw me a birthday party to celebrate my 30th birthday- Mardi Gras themed. It turned out so great! I had so much fun seeing everyone and it was so great to see that people participated and wore fun masks. The food was awesome and Will did a great job decorating. Thanks to everyone that came and those that worked so hard to put it together. It was so worth it. My 30th will definitely be memorable!!!

Will and I are pictured with my sister in laws (Will's sisters),
Michelle on the left next to me and Aimee on the right beside Will

My step sister Tricia and her goofy husband Dustin wearing her mask. Dustin be sexy!!!
Here's a pic with my sisters and my mom on the very left

Blowing out the candles on the traditional King Cake

Jennie and Trent- Love Them!!!

Back Row: Melissa, Julie, Alisa, Me, Jamie
Front Row: Jennie, Holly, Nicole

Being Super Silly!

Scott and Nicole

Me and Denise

me and my bebe all masked up!