Monday, July 29, 2013

Photos of our journey out

It's been 3 weeks and 3 days since we unloaded Bridget the Budget truck and we are 99% settled in.  I say 99% only because we still have some excess stuff that we need to have picked up or something.  Just more purging of superfluous material possessions.

This was a busy weekend, but fun!  Friday we went to Ethiopian food in the east village at Awash with some of Megan's colleagues. It was delicious, a new adventure that we both savored!  Saturday we took the train upstate to go hiking, again with the OpenX crew.  What a fun and exhausting hike!  Sunday we bopped around separately, I went to Smorgasburg with Matt and his boys who are visiting, and Megan went to church and lunch with her girlfriend Erica.   

We have so much to catch up on, it feels like we're perpetually behind, but I thought you might want to see some of the photos we took on our way here.  It was a crazy adventure, for sure!  I updated the blogs that we wrote on the road with photos of the day's journey.

Day 1 - June 30th - Departure - CA, AZ

Day 2 - July 1st - AZ, NM, TX

Day 3 - July 2nd - Megan's 30th birthday! - TX, OK, AR, TN

Day 4 - July 3rd - TN, VA

Day 5 - July 4th - Arrival - VA, WV, MD, PA, NJ, NY

I really enjoyed the look back on our journey out here, I hope you do as well!


Kelly & Megan on the NJT train to Sloatsburg

Subway smiles and adventures

It's hard to catch a smile on the subway.  If you do meet some one's eyes it's usually in passing or in angst.  Whether it be attraction to what meets the eye, or in shock.  Either way whichever way you slice it, subway rides are always unique  For the first two weeks here I did not bring any reading material to busy my <20 minute commute because I had all the viewing pleasure I needed on the 2, 3, F, B, D, 6, Q trains that I experimented taking during the first few days.  In fact, I'm rounding up my third business week here in the city and I've still yet to feel solid about my chosen route. Some days - mostly those after work - I find myself so distracted, mentally exhausted (physically more so during the first week after moving in), that I just hop on to whatever train comes to the platform, without even confirming that it's the right train!  I would just emerge into the rush hour crowd and sometimes not catch my mistake until I heard either an unfamiliar stop or any stop after what should have meant my stop should have already happened.  It's happened a few times.  But I always compensate somehow.  Whether' it's catching the 2 at Atlantic or going for a walk after being dropped off at an unfamiliar stop  (which I have learned the hard way can take up to 12 minutes of waiting depending), mistakes on the Subway are usually reparable unless you get off at a one-way station and you have to pay fare again.  Every day is an adventure on the subway.

Just today there was a fella who was shuffling through the car asking for money and then I am almost certain he walked in between the cars to get to the next, but paused for a smoke on the connector platform while the train was moving!!  There are also these subway car 'street performers'.  They dance a choreographed routing in between the hand poles and in an acrobatic moment they're done swinging from the ceiling and they're out the door at the next stop, to head where, who knows?  What do they spend their money on?  Do they have day jobs?  Where did they learn to dance like pole dancing ninjas while the subway is in motion?!  

Some days when I'm supposed to be somewhere at a specific time and I'm running a bit late, I'll take a taxi instead.  I usually get into the city  (lower Manhattan, midtown) in 15-20 vs. 30-35.  Good to have options though.  Options where all I need to do is to locate one and/or hop on, and get from A to B.  I don't miss driving really.  It's quite nice not to have to think during the commute, not to have to fill up the tank, pay for insurance, worry about servicing, replace the tires, get it cleaned/clean it, park it, register it annually with the DMV.  I pay $112/month for unlimited and automatically renewing metro fare.  Versus the $50+ I spend ad hoc I'd say it's a much more scalable fare.


Just today I was headed to church, supposed to be in Manhattan by 11:45 at Irving Plaza (a concert venue hall by night, Church by Sunday, near Union Square), and because I was running behind, I walked down to a busier part of the neighborhood down Vanderbilt to catch a taxi.  They are not easy to hail in our immediate hood! After attending service I feel renewed and my soul refilled.  Armed to take on the world!


Saturday we went up to Harriman State Park for a 6+ mile, 5.5 hour hike.  What a great workout, for the mind and body.  What an adventure the whole day was!  We met at Penn Station at 10:15 to catch the 10:54 NJ Transit to Secaucus where we would transfer to Sloatsburg, in upstate NY.  From the cute little train platform, we walked into the park (estimated to be about 1.5-2) miles and actually walked past the original planned trail, Dater Mountain, than what we were anticipating.  It worked out well though because right after Kelly voiced her concern that we had long-since passed the visitor center (why does she always doubt me?), we approached the visitor center where a nice [looking] younger man helped to mark a route for us for a suitable trail for our wants.  I hope to see him again.  He sure reminded me of a long-since former boyfriend/best friend.  If there are two ideal places that I would like to meet my mate: hiking and/or church.  =)


The view at the top of the boulders was epic.  Who knew there was so much green in NY?!  A therapeutic dose of 57,000 acres of nature!  Splendid beauty!  The NYC skyline was even visible, but barely so to our eyes and would not make a picture.  I felt like my body sooo needed that hike.  Consider me hike-hydrated, although I do feel I will need to get out there a few more times before the winter.   


Kel was a champ!  At the end she confessed that it had been her hardest hike to date (that'll happen when you hike with me.)  For we may be slow, but we sure are blessed with endurance.  Kel was keeping up like a seasoned hiker!  I remember the days when she would not have been able to join in on hikes and I longed for the day when we would be able to enjoy working out in the glory of the outdoors. Hiking never feels like such a workout because of the beautiful views and scenery.  The satisfaction of an eagle's view is always so rewarding.  I swear we gained more than 500 ft. elevation (made it to just above 1,100 ft. above sea level), but that's what the maps say.  And we believe everything we're told, don't we?  


I had a soul-nourishing, mind and heart refilling week and I intend to continue my rhythm until it becomes a habitual pattern.  Yoga, hiking/nature, church/singing praise, baking-therapy, my sister/best friend, writing/journaling, NYC/exploring/discovering new places = just a few of my favorite things.

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Weekend number 3 - touristy stuff!

We had a fantastic weekend, and it's so much to share that I'd be up (even later) typing all night.  So instead, here's a photo blog for ya, and a brief summary.

Saturday - I went into Manhattan to meet a fellow (Jason/39/Williamsburg) and as the date was winding to a close I saw a text from Megan about going to the Statue of Liberty and/or Staten Island.  Don't worry, folks, I checked my phone in the restroom - I'm not that clueless about dating.  I met Megan and Matt down at the Staten Island Ferry terminal and since the shuttles to the Statue were done for the day, we decided to tour the ole gal on the cheap.  Since the ferry is free, that was awesome!

 The stop that we get on the 2 or 3 train


Megan and Matt got off and decided to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, because hey - why not?!


Heading toward Manhattan from Brooklyn

View of the Empire State Building and the Manhattan Bridge

The financial district

Oh hello, Lady Liberty!

Beautiful shot, taken by Megan!


Matt's head and One World Trade Center



In Manhattan, making their way to the ferry terminal




All aboard, now I took over the camera (I didn't bring Norma the Nikon on my date... that's just weird).

 Our first view of the Statue of Liberty from the ferry


 Adios, Manhattan!  We're headed to the "other" borough.


The family to my right was quite affectionate, we were in close contact nearly the entire ride...

Battery Park looking at the financial district, south Manhattan for those of you who are as geographically inclined as I am.

 Here's to ya, NYC!


New Jersey on the left, New York on the right, the Hudson right in the middle.

When you have a delicious beer and need to take photos, you find ways of preserving your beverage while freeing up hands.

A cold front was (finally) moving in, which created thunderstorms and rain and gorgeous clouds.


See ya soon, missy!  I need to get up in that crown of hers, it's been a dream of mine since childhood.

Check that off the bucket list!

Lil lighthouse. 


We drove over that bridge in the background to get from Jersey to Staten Island.  In a 16' rental truck.  Oy vey!

 Staten Island in all of her glory.


Our trusty chariot.

Just as we pulled into Staten Island, the rain came down, HARD.  

Brooklyn, and the tallest building to the far right is what I call the "Brooklyn Clocktower."  I'll figure out its real name sometime soon...

The ferry, Manhattan, East River, and Brooklyn.

Yup.  Well, at least, 1/5th of it.


Chatting with Matt on the ferry back to Manhattan, we had literally gotten off and then right back on.  Please note my adorable wedges on the seat next to me - I had a total SATC moment when my shoe broke right at the end of my date.  Thankfully, Jason/39/Williamsburg remembered there was a shoe store in Union Square and I hit up DSW for a replacement pair.  


View toward Brooklyn as we head back.

 Close up of DUMBO area of Brooklyn?


 Back on the subway, heading home.


Don't do it, Matty!  Behind the yellow line please!


Here comes our train.

Sunday - We woke up and dined on some delicious banana-walnut-amazing-pancakes that Megan had prepared for us.  She was going to go to Coney Island with a colleague who was in town, and Matt was persuaded to go along.  Since I have FOMO, I had to go as well.  We applied sunscreen, hopped on the Q, and had a fantastic day walking up and down the boardwalk.  We even went on the Cyclone - it was awesome!!!  I even captured our walk from the Q back to our place, so you can see a bit of our neighborhood.

If you look hard, you can see a rollercoaster through the windows.

Coney Island!

Meg searching for the ocean.

The Coney Island subway station had some interesting art.


We had to get a hot dog at Nathan's Famous.  It was without question.

The whole process was a bit inefficient, to be quite honest.

But I got my cheese dog with mustard and a delicious Killian's Irish Red - one of my favorite beers!

In 2011, they finally opened up the hot dog eating contest and now have a male and a female winner.  Hooray!  Also, one dog filled me up, I am so not a professional eater.


We got there around 12:30 or so, and it was a gorgeous day, but not too busy.  Yet.

View to the right - I think that's a parachute drop ride?

View to the left or east

Ahhhhhh, sand... waves... sunshine.  It was almost like home!

If you look hard, you can see Matt, Meg's colleague, and Megan wandering down the boardwalk ahead of me.

Another Nathan's and our first glimpse of the Wonder Wheel.

They don't make 'em like this anymore!

Yup!


The diversity of people is amazing.  You have your old...

And your young.


 Lots of families were out enjoying the nice day.




Under the boardwalk...  Seriously such a naughty song if you think about it.  Plus, sand is just NO fun in that context.  

 Neato new bathroom structures that weren't open yet.  On stilts to prevent flooding during any future superstorms.


Feeling happy and carefree!

Oh yes, then there were the studly men.

This reminds me of another fine male specimen, down on the lovely island of St. Martin.


Wait, what do we have here?

If I had to see it, so do you.

The water was gorgeous, warm, and there were no "PayDay candy bars" floating in it, despite what we were told.


I will be back to swim in you, yes I will.

Roomies!


The lifeguards are pretty legit on the east coast.

By now the beach was filling up a bit more.




Musicians and DJs had arrived and set up to entertain the peeps and got us dancing and having a great time.

Now that's pride. Yes, I'm following you, good sir.


 Um.... ok.  That's just weird.




The most amazing/huge fanny pack I have ever laid eyes on.

The crowd was all hanging out and dancing and singing on the boardwalk.


We rode that!  The amazing Cyclone.  I will admit that the one at Magic Mountain does a good job of imitating it.


Zoltar!!!

I wonder who this Herman Popper is?

We were hungry again, and we were going to stop at Grimaldi's...

Rats with wings.  I wonder which jerk fed the rats.

So instead of Grimaldi's, Megan had a tip that took us on another jaunt through a neighborhood further from the beach.

Totonno's pizza!  We had beer in Dixie cups and an amazing large half/half pie.  Ridiculously good and so worth the extra walk.

Questionable signs.

 
 Everyone snoozes on the train.


Bikes might get you a dirty look on the subway, but hula hoops?  Totally ok.

The skies here continue to amaze me.

The Brooklyn "Clocktower."

Ahhhh a community garden on Flatbush.  Love it!


One of my favorite places, on 5th Avenue in Prospect Heights.

5th Avenue - a great street.


View down Flatbush toward the clocktower, heading home

At Flatbush and Plaza Street East.

The tall building in the far background is the clocktower.  If you look REALLY hard you can see Barclay's center.


The last vestiges of sunlight.

Getting closer to our building, Vanderbilt and Plaza Street East.


Finally home.  Hooray!

I will have to take more photos of the garden/landscaping outside.  It's just gorgeous.

Spiderman button in the elevator?

Home sweet home.