Back in NY after a week at home for Christmas. It was pretty awesome. I left 16 degree weather in NY for 70 degree weather in LA and 60 degree weather in Bakersfield. Andrew and I met up with Laura and Troy for dinner in Santa Monica and then I spent a couple days in the Inland Empire with Andrew and the boys. We had lunch with Sandra and her family; it was so great to see the kids (I had to look up since they're both so tall now). Then Mom came to Pasadena and we went home the Sunday before Christmas.
Christmas week was a lot of shopping and prepping...and napping as much as possible. I was really tired. I guess working 13 hour days for a month and a half will make you sleepy. Christmas time was fun. I was nervous that mom's family would be split up but they were all in one place and grandma delivered a great Christmas Eve dinner. There are four little kids in mom's family that really made Christmas special. I spent Christmas day with dad's family. The kids make it fun, you know? They got a Wii and I thought I'd beat them at bowling at least (have played it once and I rocked it) but Meagan whomped on me. (BTW she got a cell phone and we text all the time. She's 11.) I made out pretty well this Christmas. I got 23 pairs of socks. It's kind of insane, I know.
So now I'm back in NY and you know what? I'm happy to be home. And having mom here with me is pretty great. We'll be doing Times Square NYE :D
Happy New Year!
Year One
I've been in New York for a year! I made it, woo-hoo! This is what I've learned:
I like: (in no order)
~The cold. I smile to myself when I say "It's warm today...45 degrees."
~Snow. Oh em gee. I love it.
~My neighborhood. It's quirky and I love everything about it. Even the occasional pee smell.
~Times Square. I was warned that I'd get sick of it. Ha. I walk through it every day and I. Love. It.
~My iPhone. Only relates to NY because I'd probably would be lost in some outer borough without it.
~Fort Greene, Brooklyn. It's home and it's beautiful and it's full of all my NY "firsts."
~Nicknames. I've acquired a few this year and it's a nice way of hearing you've made your mark somewhere new.
~Growing up. It's been tough but kind of rewarding. Responsibility is only nice when you've remembered you have them and live up to them. Luckily no one is depending on me to feed them.
~Driving in the city. I may occasionally run a red light but it's exciting.
~Todd's apartment. Smells like home. Every time I walk in it's like - *sigh* home. ~Crossing the street on a red light. Especially in front of a group of tourists who all gasp as soon as I set foot on the black street. Haha. Simple pleasures.
~Walking the wrong way down the middle of an empty one-way street. It's so empowering! Dumb, right?
~Eating at restaurants in Brooklyn. I'm not rich and so I love that restaurants in BK are reasonably priced and dee-lish.
~Ordering coffee. You can say "light and sweet" and they make it just how I like it. How great is that?!
~Crying in the street. Once during a rain storm I was emotional and just started sobbing. I walked 20 blocks along 8th Avenue just sobbing. I might have been bothered that no one asked if I was OK but...the city gave me just what I needed at the time.
~Cabs. I most like the SUV cabs. Not sure how good my hailing has gotten but I manage.
~Starbucks. On every corner. I only really like their specialized drinks but I love that the option is there. On every corner.
~The Q train. It gets me to Brooklyn quickly. And I like the yellow and orange seats on the Q trains. I have a favorite spot to sit :)
~The Brooklyn Bridge. I know. Everyone likes the Brooklyn Bridge. But - the first time I walked it, I got a history lesson from Todd and now there's just this extra appreciation for it and it's existence. Same can pretty much be said for almost anything in Brooklyn.
~Bryant Park. It's definitely not given enough credit. Also - I think its Christmas tree is much more beautiful than the one at Rockefeller Center. Just sayin'
~The buildings, the streets, the people. Like no other place I've been and I don't want to ever leave it. (Most days.)
Don't likes:
~Queens.
~Growing up. It's been tough.
~The A,C,E trains. I don't know why. I just don't. Stems back to my summer on S. Oxford street. The C sucks.
~Working two jobs. I'm tired and it's cold. Send money. In large quantities.
I think this is it for now. Huge thanks to Mom, grandma Carmen, Dad and Todd. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for each of you.
LOVE
I like: (in no order)
~The cold. I smile to myself when I say "It's warm today...45 degrees."
~Snow. Oh em gee. I love it.
~My neighborhood. It's quirky and I love everything about it. Even the occasional pee smell.
~Times Square. I was warned that I'd get sick of it. Ha. I walk through it every day and I. Love. It.
~My iPhone. Only relates to NY because I'd probably would be lost in some outer borough without it.
~Fort Greene, Brooklyn. It's home and it's beautiful and it's full of all my NY "firsts."
~Nicknames. I've acquired a few this year and it's a nice way of hearing you've made your mark somewhere new.
~Growing up. It's been tough but kind of rewarding. Responsibility is only nice when you've remembered you have them and live up to them. Luckily no one is depending on me to feed them.
~Driving in the city. I may occasionally run a red light but it's exciting.
~Todd's apartment. Smells like home. Every time I walk in it's like - *sigh* home. ~Crossing the street on a red light. Especially in front of a group of tourists who all gasp as soon as I set foot on the black street. Haha. Simple pleasures.
~Walking the wrong way down the middle of an empty one-way street. It's so empowering! Dumb, right?
~Eating at restaurants in Brooklyn. I'm not rich and so I love that restaurants in BK are reasonably priced and dee-lish.
~Ordering coffee. You can say "light and sweet" and they make it just how I like it. How great is that?!
~Crying in the street. Once during a rain storm I was emotional and just started sobbing. I walked 20 blocks along 8th Avenue just sobbing. I might have been bothered that no one asked if I was OK but...the city gave me just what I needed at the time.
~Cabs. I most like the SUV cabs. Not sure how good my hailing has gotten but I manage.
~Starbucks. On every corner. I only really like their specialized drinks but I love that the option is there. On every corner.
~The Q train. It gets me to Brooklyn quickly. And I like the yellow and orange seats on the Q trains. I have a favorite spot to sit :)
~The Brooklyn Bridge. I know. Everyone likes the Brooklyn Bridge. But - the first time I walked it, I got a history lesson from Todd and now there's just this extra appreciation for it and it's existence. Same can pretty much be said for almost anything in Brooklyn.
~Bryant Park. It's definitely not given enough credit. Also - I think its Christmas tree is much more beautiful than the one at Rockefeller Center. Just sayin'
~The buildings, the streets, the people. Like no other place I've been and I don't want to ever leave it. (Most days.)
Don't likes:
~Queens.
~Growing up. It's been tough.
~The A,C,E trains. I don't know why. I just don't. Stems back to my summer on S. Oxford street. The C sucks.
~Working two jobs. I'm tired and it's cold. Send money. In large quantities.
I think this is it for now. Huge thanks to Mom, grandma Carmen, Dad and Todd. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for each of you.
LOVE
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