I Love the City!!

Yesterday went down to New York for my long awaited birthday present of seeing Lion King on Broadway and an overnight in NY. It was Sooo nice, all around! We saw the early show at 2:00...Wow! From the very first moment it started it was fabulous! If you know anyone who's seen this or seen this yourself, you know all the talk about the costumes and the set...just really well done...while I'm not very astute when it comes to recognizing "art-manship" or art-womanship or whatever, the costumes and set were very creative, not in the hollywood sense of "looking exactly like a lion" or whatever, but in the way of creating the "essence" of the character or prop/set piece. Even if you're not so into musicals, it truly was an entertaining show! I love those silly hyenas the best, STILL...they crack me up with their stupid humor. Not to many people appreciate corny stupid humor as much as I do and I miss that as being part of my everyday life---so much has gotten so serious...or maybe I'm just hanging around the wrong people;)

After the show we walked around a street fair which took up a good chunk of blocks just north of Times Square. There was all kinds of yummy food, but since Trav and I had already grabbed a slice of pizza before the show and were planning on dinner a little later, we settled on a bag of kettle corn...yummmeeee!!!! All those vendors there that weren't selling food were selling purses (of course), and pashminas (a bargain, really, at $5-8 bucks a pop)...I should have gotten one because their so handy, particularly when dressing up, us gals need some warmth on those chilly evenings or inside the ice-box airconditioned reception halls at weddings and whatnot...next time...

After we saw enough of the same thing over and over, falafel, sweaters, jewelry, kebabs, lemonade, sweaters, scarves, falafel, belts, jewelry, purses, more purses, get the idea? We turned around and made our way back to our hotel to check in. In the lobby there was a young couple who didn't speak much English at all and the reception guy was trying to explain how their card wasn't going to be charge until they left and then the woman/girl noticed that the price on the new receipt and the price on the receipt she received online was tremendously different so both sides were trying to understand each other (in spanish, since they knew more spanish than english)...and this went on and on, thank goodness Trav and I were comfortably waiting on the red leather couch. For the first 20 minutes, it was fine that we were waiting because god knows when Trav and I have traveled, we haven't known the languages either, but luckily, I don't recall ever having made such a scene in a reception area due to our language ignorance. All good.

We had dinner at a lovely italian restaurant. There were all kinds of special things and whatnot, but I special ordered a "regular plate of pasta" with meatless sauce (they only had the meat sauce on the menu. And a regular green salad...that's how fancy I was feeling. Trav at least ordered from the menu...It's so funny, we don't ever go out to Italian restaurants...we really only go out to eat at Thai, Indian, Japanese, and Chinese places (mostly because of the veggie options). Dinner was delicious nonetheless and we strolled around awhile before heading back to the hotel. We were able to watch a little TV (novelty for us)...whatever baseball game was on, and then lights out, earplugs in (noisy noisy, still), windows closed, a/c on...less noisy...but still not a great night's sleep. Trav and I both commented on how long night seemed to take...usually it's time to get up in no time at all, but we just kept waking up all night...still dark...

So, I always wish that I can stay the night in the city when I go there. I always think I'll be missing out on something. I feel sad leaving... But now this is the second time in the past year that we've spent a night in the city, I must say that I'll be okay with leaving from now on. It's not like we're night owls...we go to bed early;) AND we like to actually sleep when we go to bed. So, the next time we find ourselves in the big apple, we'll enjoy ourselves thoroughly and an hour and 15 minutes later, we'll be home sweet home. (Though we did have a delicious breakfast this morning...Trav had Nutella filled french toast and I had homemade granola with yogurt and fruit...yummy...yes, quite possibly my favorite part of going away anywhere is the yummy food...) On that note, I must go finish making my homemade soup! (And hey, breakfast inspired me to make my own granola today, too...not bad for my first attempt!)

Where Do I Live???

So Trav was out of town from Wednesday night through Friday evening doing his usual Saranac consulting. It's not so bad having a couple nights of solitude, though as the weather gets cooler in the evenings, I miss the nice warm snuggle at night. Anyway, Wednesday comes and goes uneventfully on the homefront. I had a faculty meeting after school, then walked with my jogging gals (one of whom is nearly 8 months pregnant, hence the walking), after which we had a nice mexican meal together to "celebrate" my belated birthday and Vanessa's more recent birthday. It was a nice visit with the gals. I came home, checked email and blogs, locked all the windows (ever since that Cheshire incident, I'm a bit more spooked being alone), and read until my eyes wanted to close. A nice night.

Then comes last night...yesterday was a No School day, always welcome;) I got some things done in the morning around town, including a trip to the mall to use my various Macys coupons to buy dresses and accompanying accents for the upcoming sister-in-law's wedding and party a month later. The best part was even after the sales AND coupons, I got 2 $10 off coupons to use in a few weeks...not really a bad deal...Onward. So the rest of the day I straighten the house, sort of, do laundry, and poke around on the internet (I'm so good at that). I think I may have taken a nap in there, too. Then comes bedtime...

I go into the bathroom to brush my teeth and see a big Mr. Spider up on the ceiling. The other night there was a big Daddy Long Legs in there which Trav brought outside for me...I know he's harmless and all, and I know I'm all about protecting bugs and stuff, but I definitely handle bugs in a girly way when I'm trying to get them outside and they start crawling toward me (picture me rescuing a spider on a magazine and carrying magazine towards door when said spider begins crawling toward me...picture me then throwing the magazine AND spider across the room, I do the "gross spider dance" while said spider makes his escape.) Does this ever happen to anyone else??? Anyhow, Mr. Spider on the ceiling is a light brownish, somewhat translucent spider with a legspan of at least an inch and a half (not as big as the BIG spider in our living room 2 weeks ago). So Mr. Spider is allowed to stay there as I brush my teeth. He is still the whole time. I'm okay with that. My only concern is that I tend to be a night-time bathroom run type gal...one, sometimes 2 times, lights generally stay out...I don't like the idea of doing the stealth sit-on-the-toilet to have a creepy spider sneak up on me, or worse, Under me!!! Aaack!! But, I vow to suck it up and put the light on,to be sure he stays up there...I refuse to smoosh him and imagine the dances I'd be doing trying to get that spider off the ceiling...I leave the bathroom, lights out in bathrooom, lights out in kitchen, and head into the bedroom. I clean the bed off and am just about to pull down the covers when I hear, "Crick, crick, crick, crick." Wait, more accurately, "CRICK, CRICK, CRICK, CRICK!!!!!!" You've gotta be freakin' kidding me!!! First a big ol' spider, and NOW a cricket...where is that little sucker...in the kitchen...go into the kitchen, lights on, cricket's off, lights off, cricket on...Unbelievable!!! So lights off, I just listen, coming from near the table....lights on, inspect the table, look under the table, don't see anything...go to start moving the table away from the wall, notice my sneakers and just pull them out of the way when, Aaaaahhhh!!! BIG BLACK CRICKET!!! Yikes!! I was totally expecting one of those smaller brown ones...you know the "regular" ones, the one that cricked at me as I walked past him going down to get my laundry from the basement, but no, this was the real thing, a big ol' 2 inch long (nearly!) thick, antennaed, jumping (perhaps impaired though) cricket. Okay, next steps, get the newspaper and begin pushing him toward the door. Push one way, jump the other, push harder, jump jump, this thing better not jump on my toes!! Push, oh no, how is he crawling on the newspaper now? Throw the paper...oh no! Where is he? What if I go to pick up the paper and he jumps on me (I'm such a freakin' woos!!) Get the newspaper and one last good push (or fling) and he's safely outside and I'm safely cricket free...Sorry about putting your dinner outside Mr. Spider! You'd think I lived in the middle of a jungle the way my house seems to support wildlife lately...Who needs to go camping when you can stay at my house!!!

Thank goodness I'm so self sufficient!!

Up, Up, and Away!!!

On Tuesday, the long awaited hot air balloon came to our school. The whole school went out to the back field and watched as the pilot filled the balloon with air. They all screamed when the balloon would begin to roll as the wind would blow, afraid it might roll on top of them. It was really cute (and how cool for me even to get to be so up close and all to a real live hot air balloon)! The balloon was tethered to a couple of trucks in the back field as well as held onto by some of the big strong school staff. Because it was a bit of a windy day, the eighth graders weren't able to get a tethered ride as originally planned. It was cool though to see even just the pilot in the basket, firing the hot air into the balloon and seeing it take off from the ground. Once it got past the tree line, it would begin to blow sideways. It was quite an ordeal!

Thanks again Jenn and Dan for sharing such an exciting event with the school. It will be one of those experiences the kids remember forever! Did anyone see the pictures in the paper? We're famous!!

A Busy Weekend

Yes, that's right, we've been busy 'round here:) We had Chase's first birthday party on Saturday up at Jill's which was nice...It's amazing how kids can be so different...He was Not into his Mickey Mouse cake at all...we joked around that he was thinking stuff like "You mean this ISN'T Organic?" and "You want ME to eat this Sugary Crap!" It was funny because really all he's been eating has been organic and without sugar...Jill even complains about the sugar content of Cheerios! So anyway, it was not a surprise really that he didn't like the cake...give him a little more time, I guess!

It was nice to catch up with the rest of the family, too...Abby has been doing work for the family that lives in Westport and has been wanting to ask them about using a barn on their property for her wedding. My mom and I had counseled her on how the next time they ask "How's the wedding planning coming along?" that she should then describe what she's looking for...something "barn-like" with beautiful grounds outside...rustic inside, but classy nonetheless..." and on and on...Well, apparently, last week the people actually asked exactly what we had predicted and because Abby couldn't believe that they said it just as we had practiced, she had to do all she could to keep serious and totally couldn't get close to inviting herself to use their barn...oh well...She'll figure something out soon enough!

Jeff has been working his butt off on a couple of houses...one of which is all ready for a buyer...If you know anyone interested in a cute little, completely renovated house in New Fairfield, let me know and I can send pictures, etc. Samantha is like a stringbean, growing and growing...she was as big as a three year old boy that was there (and stronger, too...) She's a feisty little nearly two-year old...snagging toys from innocent bystanders and whatnot...I don't think anyone managed to get anything out of her hands! In good time I'm sure she'll be sharing with the best of 'em, right Marisa?

Jill's back to work this year and Lenny will be home with Chase until Jill gets home (around 3 or so...lucky duck!) Then Lenny'll be heading out to do various odd jobs around town to make some extra cash...Everything tends to have a way of working out it seems...

On Sunday, we had a picnic at Trav's parents' house, always nice:) Sorry we missed the picnic up at Amy's though...I guess Trav and I had our own private bbq with the Gemmiti's last month though...And today WE GOT OUR NEW-ISH WASHING MACHINE!! Trav called on an ad in the paper this morning, went to take a look and brought us home a nice extra large capacity clothes-cleaning machine!! Hooray!!! She's been working at it all day...So nice! So the official word was that although my blog-fans seemed to think that a stackable on the main floor was ideal (as I still think), my realtor and house-builder resource people said it did not make sense to have a washer in the middle of the living space which is already so limited...PLUS if we're going to rent this house out anyway for awhile, the talk is that renters are likely to be pleased enough to not have to go to the laundromat that walking outside to the basement is really no trouble at all...(we've been doing it for 4 years now...)

Oh, and one more update...Check Engine Light is ON again...what the heck...let's see how long I have to ignore it for it to shut off this time!!!

Sorry no pictures lately...the camera's been in school for the past few weeks...I'll get better at it again...