This is (my) life: September 2007

During my time on the east coast, I spent a lot of time in Manhattan. Living in DC, it's only a 3 hr. 45 min. drive (with no traffic), a 3.5 hr train ride, a 45 min. flight, or of course, the 5 hour bus ride from Chinatown. I love New York City and thought I may move there on a couple of occasions, but it never seemed to work out. It probably won't ever at this point seeing as how now I'm loving life in California and probably am here to stay. Though, I do have a general policy of "never say never." I try not to use superlatives. You can't really say you'll "never" do something or try something or live somewhere because you really never know. Obviously, I don't feel this is applicable in all situations. If we are talking about someone's standards or morals, I have no problem with them using superlatives - saying you'll never do this or that.. completely fine with that. But if you were to tell me, you'd never want to live on the East Coast or raise your children in Southern California, that may just be a little close-minded. You don't know what you're missing out on. So, I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm in California now "to stay" but that doesn't me I'd never leave.

In any case, before leaving the east coast my longing for living in the City needed to be somehow satisfied. So, I decided to spend 7 days there before heading west. It was a solid 7 days of just taking it in. I went to a couple Yankees games, hit up Long Beach (Long Island), did some shopping from Canal St. to 5th Ave., walked the Brooklyn Bridge and saw the sites.. and had about enough of the subway to last a really long time. Especially since my MTA metrocard was semi-defective leaving me one subway behind my friends on most occasions due to the fact I had to slide it at least 10 times before it would work, if it worked at all.

I had a great time and at the end of the seven days was completely spent. The City can energize and drain you simultaneously. I was probably out and about for 15 hours a day the whole time I was there, and at night, oh man- I slept like a baby.. despite Ryan trying to cuddle up to me on a few occasions. He's such a cuddler. My wallet was also spent. Going to New York, is kind of like opening your wallet and putting a wet/dry shop vacuum up to it. It's crazy how much money you'll spend without even realizing it. I still haven't really done the math on how much I spent on this trip- I don't want to know.

Part of that had to do with me buying my new Nikon D80 camera, which I'm pretty excited about. I've always loved photography since I was a kid and took photography 101 in 7th grade. (At the time, I probably mainly took the class because Laura Knapp was taking it, and there was a good possibility that we could end up in the dark room together working on our skills.. at developing photos of course..). But anyway, my pictures that I add to my blog from this point forward should be a notch up in quality I'm hoping. Though this first round from my New York trip isn't going to be all that great since I had no idea how to use the camera yet (still trying to figure it out). Anyway, here's my last week in NYC...

The view of water towers outside of Ryan's bedroom window

The mailman

Dentists in contemplation on the steps of Columbia University

Pinnacle on 115th is money pizza

Blake was manning the kissing booth at Columbia's orientation week

Long Beach, Long Island

Notice that the kid on the left has "Bang!" written on his board, as he's about to ram into a fellow surfer..

Paul D, longboarding in Long Isnland

The Dos

Two dudes, just looking for a game of football

Or, maybe they're looking for something else...

Good luck fellas

Kathy tried to avoid this snapshot, but I got her

small, shallow, and seaweed.. but still kinda fun

This longboarder ducked his head in a mini-barrel and it turned into a pretty cool picture

Rob picturing himself in some week Long Beach surf

Rob

There he is

YANKEE STADIUM, THE BRONX

Yankee Stadium, with Chris and Rob, oh, and Blake was there too, but unfortunately we didn't realize that one of the scalped tickets wasn't anywhere near the other three

2o oz. Sprite, $4.50

Sax player in the Bronx

Times Square

On the Brooklyn Bridge...

Watch out ladies..

Here are our Brooklyn Bridge headshots..

Watch out for the Paparazzi...

Who are those two lovebirds holding hands?

Looks like Megan and Rob.. at the beginning of a "special night"

Natalie Hill.. America's Next Top Model... or just some girl in Grease (the broadway production)

Work it girl

The goal in walking across the bridge... Grimaldi's

The back of the line.. our pizza is another 20 minute wait once we reach the green awning... You'd think you better get some amazing pizza after waiting in a line like this, though I have to say the Pizza might be a bit over-rated. I was starving by the time we ate, so Domino's or Little Ceasars or anything would have tasted amazing..

Inside Grimaldi's

Please be ours!

After an hour and a half of waiting in line, the pizza arrives.

GOT IT!

And after waiting an hour and a half for pizza, we figured why not wait another half hour for an ice cream cone...?

Entertaining ourselves in line

The Menu

(Post first kiss)

I'm going to call this section... "What are we doing?"

Ryan's got it covered...

Shane and Ryan are holding hands

Shane and Ryan in perfect synchronization

and back to the city...

I was taking this picture of cars in motion on the bridge while Shelly was simultaneously taking a picture of Rob and Megan, and this was the outcome...