Day Two

So, my computer seems to be acting as exhausted as we are and is moving at the pace of molasses. Therefore, I'm going to write this post and then let the pictures upload to the scrolling album at the top, rather than try and get them into my post. BTW, you can double click on the slideshow to see our whole photo album in larger size if you're looking at the same shots over and over.

So - day two, what can I say? I can barely remember this morning, it seems like several days ago! After about 3 hrs. of sleep for the second night in a row, I drug myself out of bed, showered, "painted the barn" and we were off to the TODAY show. We were there in plenty of time and got great spots along the fence and were totally excited. We then spent the next 2 hours waiting while the completely bratty kid next to us whined at his mother incessantly. I was beginning to think this was a bad idea. HOWEVER, 9-something rolled around and success! Matt Lauer shot a segment directly in front of us and Grace not only got on TV more than once, we got snapshots of her with both the hosts! Hurray - on to the next thing!

We went back to the hotel to change and had breakfast. Then we were off to shop 'til we dropped. 5th avenue here we come! We saw it all - from Tiffany's, to the Disney store to dancing on the piano at FAO Schwartz a-la-Big. We went back to the seven-stories of Macy's and found nothing Grace liked and then moved on to the four-stories of "21" and bought her a pile. I love taking your teen daughter shopping and when she's standing there trying to make the monumental decision of which one to get and which to put back, saying, "get both, of course, and those cute earrings too!" It was fun. :)

Somewhere in there between 5th avenue and 21 we had stopped by the hotel to drop of Kathy's absolutely fabulous birthday present and take a 30 minute rest. You're going to love it Kathy.....

Anyways, where were we....hmm...post-21....subway...dinner! We went to Serendipity 3, the shop featured in the movie Serendipity. You know how often when you go somewhere you've heard all about or seen in the movies, it's usually not all it's cracked up to be? Well, Serendipity was perfect! There frozen hot chocolate was scrumdidilyumptious and we had chocolate cake, fudge, sundae with a birthday candle for dessert. Another perfect moment that worked out just the way I hoped!

We came back to the hotel, dolled-up and went to Phantom!! It was wonderful, of course. Our seats were in the 9th row on the right side. I've never been that close to a stage production before and it was marvelous. Being to one side did have the downside of somewhat unbalancing the sound and there was mic-ing in several places, which I didn't expect. But, Phantom is Phantom and it was grand. Sitting, not standing, for 2 1/2 hours wasn't so bad either.

Being in the theater district at 10:30 at night meant one thing before heading home.....basking in the glow of Times Square of course!! It really was sensory overload - very amazing. We strolled around awhile, but we're both so exhausted that we grabbed a cab and are now unwinding and looking forward to at least 8 hours sleep! :)

Can you see how it's hard to believe it has been several days since last night at the Empire State building? We are sore, happy, exhausted, thrilled, and basically in love with NYC. We've both decided we could like living here for a year or so - with independent wealth, of course!

Can I just say that I love architecture. I don't think I realized how much until I got my new camera. I think I could live in the city for year, again with my independent wealth, have a cute little apartment on the upper-west-side (think "You've Got Mail") and stroll out for coffee at the local cafe in the morning, walk through the Park and do the Times' crossword and then spend my days wandering the city and taking pictures of buildings. Textures, layers, and details and cityscapes, peaks and valleys. I love brick! Even the 'burbs have aesthetically pleasing brick row houses - not a ranch, rambler or split-level in sight, God bless them! I just can't get enough looking at all the great lines and angles and colors and materials and pretty much everything about beautiful buildings. From the steel base of the elevated rails to the golden top of City Hall, I'm in love with architecture. In my next life, I'll be an architectural photographer.

Okay, I'm sure I've been rambling way too long now and half of what I've written may make no sense whatsoever or be totally boring, but I'm so tired I can barely see straight, much less think coherently. I better drag myself to bed and try and sleep for more than 3 hours.

Thanks for sharing our trip with us - doing this helps us remember everything we're doing!

Amy