Sunday, Dec. 12, 2004

NYC2004

I hadn’t been to NYC for a while so I was getting nervous about going again. So Christopias agreed to go on the train with the scaredy-cat. The train ride was uneventful, with only a few shady characters and a conductor who repeated the same thing over and over. I could identify, except instead of saying “There are empty seats in the last two cars, no reason to stand!” I’m usually saying “Sit down!” “Stop talking!” “There are consequences to your actions!” “Get to work!” and the ever popular, “Boy, I sure hope we get to recess today”

After Christopias and I arrived at Penn Station in NYC we found a Starbucks as quickly as possible. We took the subway without incident and walked a little way to The Metropolitan Museum of Art where we viewed the Gilbert Stuart exhibition as well as some other art. I purchased a set of Monet prints as he is my favorite artist. We walked through Central Park; musing at how since the fence is up to keep people off the grass, no one can get to the emergency phones. Good thing there were no emergencies! We stopped at the Alice in Wonderland statue (Suburban Island Tribute) and took pictures of it. Also included in the pictures are some kids whose parents gave us dirty looks for taking pictures of their kids. However, if their kids had not been climbing on statues for 20 minutes, we would not have had to take their picture! We also stopped at a street vendor who sold us “hand drawn” pictures of NYC. The one I acquired was of Times Square.

Making our way through Manhattan, we walked by Mecca (Trump Tower), Radio City Music Hall, and through Times Square. We ate at a little Italian place called Pasta D’Oro. It was pretty good, but what kind of Italian place doesn’t have lasagna on the menu? I opted for the ravioli in the absence of lasagna. Our meal was great, and the live entertainment was great too. By live entertainment, I mean the person who was sitting nearby who was talking so loudly that Christopias and I did not need to have our own conversation. I was fully drawn in to the conversation about religion, politics, and all things personal about this woman and her money-filled life.

I stopped at another street vendor and purchased “hand drawn” pictures of the tree in Rockefeller Center and Central Park in the winter. I already have them up in my apartment. When Jeffrey and I get a house I would love to decorate a room with pictures of the different places we’ve traveled. I’m hoping that next time he comes to visit we can go to NYC with another couple so that they can take pictures of us together at the sites. We have gone to NYC together, but there are no pictures of us together there because I tend to be a little weary of giving my camera to a stranger to take a picture for me.

We visited Rockefeller Center and saw the tree. Last year we saw it in the dark and it was very impressive. This time I kept thinking... “Is that it? That can’t be it. There has to be another one.” But that really was the one. I guess it just wasn’t so great during the day.

After the tree, we made our way back to Penn Station, pushing through the crowds with varying speeds. We found our spot at the train station, opting not to go on the train that we would have to run to catch and waiting 45 minutes for the next. We got dessert and sat on the floor in Penn Station. The waiting area was filling up quickly. When it was announced what track our train was on, there were droves of people making a mad dash for the empty train. Christopias and I rushed, but not enough to trample any small children. We found a seat immediately and made our way back to Jersey, taking short catnaps here and there. Upon arrival in Jersey, Christopias went his way and I went mine, making phone calls to tell my beloved Jeffrey and mother about my day.

It was a spectacular day, great to get my mind off of all the things making me miserable and great to spend time with a friend and have a thoroughly good time.

>