Elephants in Manhattan

So Chris Burns called me at like 11:00 pm on a Tuesday night to ask what I was doing. As I was unemployed, I answered not much. Somehow, Chris and I ended up meeting Chris B on 34th street to watch the elephants come into town. It was so awesome, when the circus comes to town they walk the elephants through the Queens Midtown Tunel and up 34th Street all the way to Madison Square Garden

In all the excitement, this was the best pic I got of the clown riding on an elephant.

Chris and Chris

Big ponies

Little ponies

EMILY COMES TO TOWN.....

oh yah, and its St. Patty's Day...

Emily got to my house at around 2:30 am after getting her bags last and waiting in the longest taxi line possible (typical Emily style). After her long day of travelling, she was a bit hungry so we trekked out to the good ole 24 hour diner, Cozy Soup and Burger. This trek turned out to be a recurring theme throughout her trip because we walked there or near there atleat twice every day she was in town. The next night we went to McSwirleys, the Irish alehouse thats become our traditional pre-St.PattysDay bar. We met some fun Irish girls, a couple from Texas and some veterans that were marching in the parade the next day. Emily could tell you all their names and occupations (you would be proud, mom) and did tell most of the people we saw for the next few days :)

Finally, the special day came, the day we had been waiting for all year - the day we had been planning for and collecting things for, the day that took hours of preparing - Saint Patricks Day! First came the unveiling of the capes, thats right CAPES - designed and handtailored by Emily and Supan just for the occasion. I think they made 17 in all - some for the west coast posse, some for the east coast gang. Green ones, a yellow one, and striped one - all with pots of gold on the back and sparkly black shamrocks. Emilys was the queen of all capes - with gold tassles hanging down all over, and green designy lining on the inside and tons of shamrocks all over it. They are magnificent!!!!


With our capes, shamrock necklaces, whistle pipes, green wigs, shamrock clappers, green beads, four-leaf clover shirt, and green eyeshadow we set out to the parade. We met up with more friends- Jeff, Alex, Kristen, and Binky and had frontish row spots to see the parade on Fifth Avenue. There were lotsa bagpipes, marching bands, dancers, and random groups of people walking.

I love the pipe and drum bands!!!!!!


After the parade we wandered around a bit and then met up with more friends- Chris Burns, Stacy, Jess, Sandra, Kate, and Will. Here are some more pics:
Sandra, Chris, Me, Jess, Em, Lucy, and Stacy in the front

My old New York roomie, Kate

Em, me, Binky, Alex (the caped avenger?), Kristen, and Lucy

Chris Burns and I (man, I missed this guy)

The day Em left we went to Loodys school and helped out in her 3rd grade classroom. It was really fun and the kids are so cute. They are learning about interviewing so a little girl interviewed me on why Pluto is not a planet- smart kids. They also wrote penpal letters to Emilys 4th graders in California.


Saint Patricks Day was a lot of fun and definitely a day to remember. Can't wait til next year!

Makin the Move

New York, NY
After a lengthy and fun stay at Lucy's, Chris and I found our own place in the East Village. Its a great location and a good size place. We have been exploring our neighborhood and found many wonders. This is the first official meal at our place- gourmet yummy house on the kitchen floor- how sophisticated!


The weather is so unusual here. It will be snowing one day and then warmish the next. Im still not used to it- dont know if I ever will be. Chris and I went to Central Park and the Natural History Museum.

It's coooooooooooold!






Belvedere Castle in Central Park - in the snow.







Natural History Museum- Chris likes the dinosaur bones and the squid and the whale. I like the birds and mammals. While there, we saw a stuffed bird that was the same as one we saw in Central Park- it was a woodcock! (a rare bird for NYC)

New Years in Mammoth

Chris and I went to Mammoth for New Years to see our bestest friends and go skiing - my first attempt ever. We also soaked in the hot tubs, ate blueberry muffins, attempted a trip to the hot springs - lets just call it an offroad adventure, played Spades, and sampled Scott and Kevins year-in-the-making barley wine (yum!).

Skiing, aah, skiing - my new friend... This picture was taken on the lift up to the top of the craziest run ever - Sesame Street - it doesnt get more bunny than this.Kevin, me and Scott all going for a ride- check out my awesome orange goggles!

Here it is - proof that I actually strapped ski's to my feet and slid down the mountain. Chris said I had good form...

Here is Scott and Kev at the top of the mountain. They, along with Chris, went to do some harder runs - maybe you can see me down at Sesame Street... It was perfect weather for skiing - a warm, sunny, windfree day.
Towards the end of our sesh we took the gondola up to McCoy's Station and had a beer - brewed locally - it was quite tasty and pretty funny when the foam started freezing over. Kevin definitely wins for best ski hair ever - with Chris following close behind. Scotts hair was perfect all day, seeing that he snowboards like 4 times a week. Getting down from this part of the mountain was quite an adventure for me - highlighted by falling often, screaming loudly, and laughing hysterically. All in all, it was a great way to spend the new years!

Belgium

Aah, Paris...