Surviving Sandy Part 2

Being from Arizona and deprived of all the awesome forces of nature except for dust storms - which are totally lame and super dirty - the thought of a hurricane approaching could quite possibly have been the most exciting thing ever.  So, of course the three of us just HAD to ventured outside.  Our apartment is about a block away from the Hudson River, and we wanted to see what it looked like pre-hurricane.  The pier had been closed/mandatorily evacuated, but we snuck on it anyway. We took pictures and used the binoculars to look across the Hudson at New Jersey.  It was started to get cold and windy!  After about 10 minutes we were kicked off by a patrolling squad car.  We were so daring...so brave...

The water hadn't risen at this point but it was starting to get agitated.

I remember looking across the river at Hoboken (the lights in the background) and noticed how we shared the same water front. I would never believe that within the next 24 hours part of that city would be under water.

We headed home for the night.  I have to admit that I woke up several times to look out the window to see the storm's progress.

The next morning the wind was blowing pretty steadily, but I ventured out to see if my breakfast place was opened and much to my delight it was!  I was surprised because the surrounding restaurants were dark.  I guess the employees couldn't get in to work.  It is amazing how public transit is the lifeline to the city and without it everything seems...well...dead.

I met my mom and we headed back home.  Adam's work was canceled for the day so the three of us hunkered down and prepared for the worst.  The news became the background noise that filled our apartment. After about 5 hours, we starting to feel the walls of our tiny place getting smaller and smaller so we decided to do what everyone should do during a hurricane and baked an apple pie!

And what would an apple pie be without vanilla ice cream?  Well not pie at all, quite frankly.  Unfortunately, we didn't grab any on our mad dash through the grocery store, but that did not stop Adam.  When a man wants vanilla ice cream...a man will get vanilla ice cream.  He got all bundled up and headed out into the storm to see what he could find.  

I snapped a picture of him coming home. He actually found a store that was open and had ice cream!  Well done. 

Well now we wanted wine to go with our pie...so guess who went out to get some...I think she just wanted to go out into the storm to be honest. :) I on the other hand stayed inside and took stalker photos of my crazy family going out during a hurricane. 

...and that, ladies and gentlemen, was the extent of our hurricane drama.  Strong wind gusts, lots of rain, and fun running outside.

We were so protected in our area.  We never lost power and didn't have an ounce of flooding.  So many people suffered indescribable loss, damage to their homes, and had to live without electricity for days even weeks. We feel so incredibly blessed.

  

The next day we ventured out to see the destruction of the hurricane.  This is part of Central Park. 

The Intrepid Aircraft carrier is the home to the Enterprise Space Shuttle.  I would not have known that if it weren't for the hurricane destroying it protective canopy that completely blocked it from outsiders getting a free peek at it. 

Charging stations were set up in areas that still had power. People were able to come and charge their electronic devices.  

You can see on the window there is a water line. That is how high the water got from the surge!!  This is an area near the Brooklyn Bridge.  If you look inside the window you can see that all their inventory was destroyed.  A week after the hurricane the store had still not opened back up.  Like I said we were so fortunate! 

On the bright side, my mom and I got to see Evita.  We were able to get student rush tickets in the second row.  I thought it would be too close, but the seats were perfect!  The understudy performed the role of Eva, and she was amazing. Ricky Martin just so happened to be playing the lead role, and he was great too!   

Overall, it was a very eventful couple of days.    

Surviving Sandy Part 1

Boy what a week...

It started off on Saturday when my mom came to visit us.  It was so great seeing her and I was so excited to have an exploring companion to share the city with! There were SO many things I wanted to show her, and I couldn't wait to get started!  In the back of my mind I was a little concerned about this so-called threat that hurricane Sandy was posing...

But it didn't stop us from having some fun. 

This is my mom, btw :)

We went on a food tour through Greenwich (Gren-ich).  It was AMAZING!  We stopped at many famous and/or authentic restaurants throughout the village.  From Murray's Cheese Shop and Palma's Italian Bistro to O&Co and Rocco's Bakery we tasted so much.  Mmmm.  Delicious! Highly recommend this if you ever go to New York.

Pizza, excuse me, Pie from Joe's.

Anyway, by the end of the tour we started to see the preparation for Sandy make its way through the Village.  Restaurants that were usually bursting at the seams with people had closed up shop for the day.  Windows were being boarded up and sand bags were being strategically placed in front of doorways.  There was an announcement made that they Subways were shutting down at 7pm, and while we were enjoying our prosciutto wrapped dates about 70% of the people on our tour found out that their flights home had been canceled indefinitely!  

Geez, Sandy, way to put a damper on our appetizer course...

After the tour ended we decided to go to the south end of Manhattan just so we could see it before the storm hit.  This was the area that was predicted to be hit hard by the storm and threatened to be swallowed up by the surge. When we arrived it was the first time I started to think that the hurricane was actually going to make landfall.  Bowling Green Park was abandoned, and the only people out on the boardwalk were news reporters. Just 7 hours prior my mom and I were there enjoying coffee, and it was packed with people.  Now it was totally empty! 

I was so glad that the three of us went there since I really wanted to show them a spot that I stumbled upon one day while walking around.  It is the 100 foot stretch of...I can't really describe it, but it is unlike any area that I had seen before.

 


























It is so beautiful! Little did I know that this would be the last time I would get to see this place before the hurricane ripped it apart. 

We went back to the subway and headed home on one of the last trains of the day.  We decided to "stock up" on supplies just in case and arrived at the grocery store at the same time as everyone else in Manhattan!  The lines were so long that they took up entire isles.  We split up.  Adam went and got a spot in line while my mom and I scavenged practically empty shelves for non-perishables, water, and whatever else we could find. Almost everything was gone.

So 8 gallons of water, fruit and cream oatmeal, 2 cans of tuna, tortillas, some other stuff, and a 6 pack of beer later we made it home.  Adam immediately filled up our pots, tea kettle, wine decanter, and all of our other containers with water - just in case.  At this point we had no idea what the next 48 hours were going to look like.

to be continued...

We Think We Met a Man Who Thought He was Jesus

We rushed into the Subway and quickly found a spot to stand just as the train lurched forward.  Adam was about three feet away from me to my right, and three feet in front of me stood a stout gentleman wearing a Yankees jacket.  He looked at my camera, smiled at me, and said with an apparent Mexican accent,

“You a tourist?”

“No,” I replied.

“Aww, then you must be a professional photographer?”

“Ummm...that is my goal. I am still kind of learning though.”

 I looked at Adam to draw him into the conversation.

“Well, maybe it is your...,” he paused, “gift.”

I smiled, unsure of how to react to him at this point.  He crossed his arms and leaned against the door.  He went on to say,

“We all have a gift, you know.  Would you like to know what mine is?” 

I turned to Adam as if to hand over the awkward baton that I had been passed.

“Ah...sure...” Adam responded. 

Just as the man began to speak the train screeched, and an announcement crackled over the PA system.  I watched his well groomed goatee move around his words, but I couldn’t make out what he was saying.  Finally, I caught on in the middle of his sentence.

“...the Way, the Truth and the Light.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”

He paused, waiting for a response. Not sure what we just heard, he then went on to say, 

“Do you believe?”

Again, I look to Adam hoping that he heard more than what I heard.

“Yep, we are with you brother.”

Taking the cue from Adam I smiled and gave him a dorky thumbs up. 

“I knew it,” the little man said, “I know my people anywhere.  Because I know everything.”

Just then we came to our stop. We shook his hand as we started to exit the train and he said,

“I’ll be seeing you guys again one day.”

“Ok,” Adam replied.

We stepped off both holding back a smile.  We headed up the stairs then finally looked at each other unsure of what we just experienced.  

Adam started to chuckle, “Did he think he was Jesus?”  

I finally let out the laugh I was holding on to.

 “I...don’t...actually know? I think he might have...”

Why I'll Never Look At a Pretzel Stand the Same Again...

It all unfolded while I was waiting at Shake Shack (my favorite hamburger place) for the arrival of my Aunt JoAnne and her friend Chris.  I picked a seat by the window so I could, a. watch for them and b. people watch.

If you look at the picture you will see a yellow bag in the background.  This is where I was sitting...front row seat for what happened next. 

After about 5 minutes of sitting there a very tall and skinny girl walked up to the pretzel stand right outside my window.  She was all done up with her 4 inch heals, hair piece, extra dramatic eye makeup – nothing out of the ordinary – except there was one thing that threw me. There was something off about the trench coat she was wearing.  It was a normal trench coat don’t get me wrong - tan material, Burberry lining, but something was missing...ah yes...where are these lovely lady’s pants?  Just then I saw a photographer come up and start talking to her.  They obviously knew each other and were up to something.  They started to discuss what seemed like a plan with the pretzel stand guy...and I’m thinking...whatever your are doing...please just keep that trench coat on – PLEASE just keep that trench coat on. 

Well...about a minute later the photographer was getting in position and the model lifted her hands up to her collar...

"oh no! don’t do it..."

brought the pretzel to her lips..."crap"

and much to my dismay...

shimmied right out of  her trench coat to reveal that she is wearing practically NOTHING!!!

Gasp...

Are you kidding me?!?!?!?!?!  

I turned my head away and immediately felt embarrassed just for being close to something like that!  Really? What inspired you to do this? I sort of felt bad for her. 

A large crowd, obviously, started to gather and take pictures. I couldn't believe that this girl was standing on the corner being photographed - from all angles - almost nude!!  Is this some sort of joke?!? An America's Next Top Model challenge??

As if things weren't already awkward enough, I was sitting next to two guys. One turns to me and states,

            “Wow, that outfit, or lack there of, is not very becoming on her!” and continued to eat his hamburger. 

Thank you guy sitting next me.  Thank you for not gawking at her like the other guy sitting next to him who immediately whipped out his iPhone and starting snapping pictures while giggling.

sigh...

We. Love. Boston.

So Adam and I had an amazing opportunity to travel to Boston to visit my Aunt Anne, Uncle Jon, and my cousin Sara.  They were the most gracious hosts and served as the world's greatest tour guides through the city.  

First, we got to visit the place that Sara used to work.  The view was unbelievable!  It was a great way to start off the trip.  Knowing how beautiful Boston is, I made sure I brought my camera to take pictures of it...only when I went to shoot I realized that that I left my memory card 4 hours away...in our apartment...in NEW YORK!  Much good that'll do, right?!? Luckily, Sara, being the generous person that she is, gave me the memory card out of her camera to use for the day.  Thank you, Sara - you're the best.  

We traveled to the North section of Boston, aka Little Italy and saw Paul Revere's house.  This area is chock full of history and amazing cobblestone streets.  

...and delicious Cannolis from the famous Mike's Bakery.  This is an espresso Cannoli and I'm telling you - it was just...d.e.l.i.c.i.o.u.s.  and messy :)

So after an authentic lunch at Quincy's Square, Sara hooked us up with tickets to take a Duck Tour through Boston.  A Duck Tour, you say?  Yes. A Duck Tour.  This company utilizes these World War II vehicles to take people around the city on land and on the water!  

This is a picture of us going into the Charles River as the boat/car transformed itself from a road worthy vehicle to a sea worthy vessel.  Here we go!!

After the incredibly informing and hilarious Duck Tour, we got back in the car and drove around Boston.  We miraculously got a parking spot right in front of a historical building - which if you have been to Boston you know is quite a feat - and hopped out to snap a picture the actual Cheers' sign!

A true piece of history...yes, but they didn't know my name! What the heck?!?

Terry, we took this picture for you!

This is Acorn Street...the most photographed ally in all of Boston.  There was some sort of police-y thing going on so we couldn't get a full view shot. 

Now to Dedham we go.  This is the cute little town where my family lives.  It is so quaint and full of character.  We loved walking around and absorbing the beautiful scenery and tried to comprehend the history of it all.  We actually saw a house built in the 1700's! Man...it is just so cool and so old.

Buildings in the Town's square...

The leaves are changing...yay!

This is a piece that is a part of my collection called Reflections...just kidding:)  

All that walking made us hungry...so we had to stop at this charming little bakery and scouted out their delicious pastries.  We normally don't eat like this...but, hey when else do we get this chance? Plus we are exercising...right?!? This is a Neapolitan.  Mmmm. Crunchy. Sweet. Lovely. 

After a wonderful weekend of family and fantastic seafood (the best clam chowder I've ever had was at a place called Legal Seafood) we finished up the trip taking a Harbor Tour with my Uncle Jon - who, by the way, did a better job narrating the tour than the official narrator of the cruise!  Boston is beautiful. Period. But when you get to see it from the water...man, it is just amazing.  

See?

The oldest commissioned ship in the Navy.  

A cool blue tugboat...

This clock is bigger than Big Ben. 

Just lovely.  We had such a wonderful time and can't wait to go back!!

What We've Been Up To.

I've done so much in the last week it is hard to sum it all up so I will use my pictures to help explain.  Adam has a really busy work schedule so I spend a lot my time exploring and walking around by myself.  But on the weekends, together -  we are unstoppable. On Saturday we were on our feet for 10 hours just walking around.  It is so much fun and made for some seriously sore calf muscles!!

Anyways...

Here is Central Park: These pictures are from last Monday.  As you can see the leaves are not quite turning yet, but hopefully soon. 

This is the famous skating rink inside the park.  Serendipity, anyone?  Those Zambonis look mighty bored.  They just look like they can't wait for the rink to open up :)  

Picture Perfect.  I wish you could hear this, but while I was taking this picture there was a musician playing jazz music on his saxophone.  I could have sat there for hours just listening to that! 

A Delighful Display at Mackenzie Child's flagship store on 5th Ave.  

  

Who else but Adam would catch a bird in mid air on camera?

Love these buildings...Love these trees

These next two pictures are from our favorite spot: The Highline.  It is an old above ground railroad that has been redesigned as an above ground walking path. 

Its. Just. Lovely.

Rainy nights make for awesome pictures.  This is a view from outside of our apartment:  The building with the green mast is the Empire State Building.    

  

We went to Brooklyn on Friday night and Saturday morning and just toured the city.  Brooklyn is so different than Manhattan. There are so many abondoned buildings on the water front.  It is crazy to think that that prime property is just sitting there...hmmm...makes me want to buy it all up.  Does anyone have a couple hundred mil laying around they wanna give me?  Yes...No...??  

The picture below is just one of the many historic buildings marked with graffiti.  As cool as graffiti is, it is sad to see these original brick walls all marked up. 

The J Train. I goes OVER the East River and makes for a cool view...if you aren't worried about knocking someone over because the train is super packed and there is barely any room to stand...

We are having a great time. I have to admit, last week was a little rough. Both Adam and I got a little homesick and "citysick" at the same time.  I think the crowds, noise, and hustle and bustle got to us both.  But all is better now.  :)  We just needed to regroup and get our heads back on straight.  After all, we are in NYC...

Walking around after a rainy day.  The steam from the subways makes everything seem like we are walking around on a movie set.