Less then 48 hours in NYC

I have looked forward to Andy and Bethany's visit for over 6 months. Bethany had asked for suggestions on her blog as to what to do for their 10th wedding anniversary. Many suggestions were made, including mine to come to DC and see our part of the world and all the east coast family in their homes. I was blown away that it had been 10 years. That is the last time all 4 of my siblings and I were together. April 15, 2000. They were babies and we all wished them well. Had a fun rehearsal dinner in a Chinese restaurant you had to take your shoes off and climb on the floor to the tables.......authentic is what you'd call it I guess. She was a beautiful bride in her white sneaker's and Andy the cherub groom. She 19, he 20, oh youth!

(Andy is my brothers 4 child, 3rd son of a total of 6)

So as I had casually suggested they come to DC and see all our sights, I knew that Bethany thought east was Mt. Rushmore (in the west). She, having never been near, must less across the Mississippi river. I never in a million years thought we would be so lucky to have them actually come! They talked it over, decided yes and we were a go! Wahoo! Bethany and I e-mailed back and forth for months, picked times, when they could come, how she would line up care for her 4 sons. (Her Mom and Dad are gems to take on 4 under 9 for 6 days!) Then Bethany casually throws in they want to go to NYC too and see a show and have Lombardi's Pizza. Andy had seen a blurb on the food network about the best pizza in NYC (turns out I had seen the same one, cause I recognized the numbers in the bricks once we finally got there). OK! I've been around the world and somehow NYC has always intimidated me. Time to get over my fears and bite the bullet and do this! We picked a weekend, I bought the tickets, Bethany found the hotel and we were a go: 2 days DC, 2 days NYC. Hold on to your hats!

Fun is an understatement. I hope my old brain holds on to these memories for a long time. From the moment they arrived (half an hour early) to the moment they left everything worked out perfectly.

Below are just a few of my faves from NYC, more on the trip to follow.


Holland Tunnel, a long one.



Andy and Bethany in their first EVER cab ride! NYC



Andy and Bethany in time square hours before the SUV arrived! 5-1-10 (Anyone know how to turn this? It is right in my photos......)


We stumbeled upon Bubba Gumps for lunch in Times Square. Fantastic meal and fun stuff in the shop. The shirt says: "My Momma says I'm special"!


Proof we made it to Phantom of the Opera, amazing. Bethany looked smashing in her dress.


It truely is the best pizza ever, nothing will ever come close!

That is all for tonight, I am beat. Night.

A Yankee Clipper

Heading right this way from Texas a swath of rain that when meeting our "Yankee clipper of a cold air mass heading south" will combine to dump yet another 18-24 inches of snow on us. We are breaking all kinds of snow records in this year. We have had more snow ALREADY then the last 5 years put together! The city is over budget for snow removal and we locals are tired of the word snow. If I were rich I'd be on a plane for Marsh Harbor in the Bahamas tonight. But work is a pesky necessity to pay the bills.

I went to the grocery today which was sheer panda-monium (a little pun there as our panda bear left our fair city today, not that I ever got to the zoo to see him, but he made the news a lot and I'll try better if we get a new baby panda this year...the little stick of butter as they start out. They are already on a baby watch at the zoo. He and his Atlanta cousin are bound for China as I type)

The lines in Safeway were down each isle 3/4 of the way. Note to self, wait till it STARTS snowing to go to grocery. My last adventure to the grocery in the snow last Saturday was a sheer delight. No one there, compared to today. The weather man on my favorite channel WUSA9 has a "bread 0 meter" to gage the storms intensity and bother for the city. 0-10 The last 3 storms this winter were about 3-5. This weekend we have hit the top of a whopping 10. Get the bread and milk Lucy, we are in for a biggie. Of course all the schools and every weekend activty are closed, BUT THE HOSPITAL STILL RUNS AND THE PATIENTS ALL GET IN FOR THEIR ELECTIVE SURGERY! Next time I'm going to be a teacher. Pat is at home quilting with my cutie patuttie 1935 singer sewing machine while I save lives all day.

Tim has strep throat. He is better already. I had him to the ENT on Wednesday. Antibiotics are wonderful drugs.

My cough is all but gone, and I'm 98%.

At least we have the superbowl to look forward to on Sunday....now who do I want to win? I think I am on the fence. Like Peyton Manning, but the Saints deserve a win.

I sold my cherry desk tonight on Craig's list. Hello $80.00 and more space. Yea, I'm going to miss it just a bit, but the cute family that came to get it is thrilled.
And I have less clutter. Now Bethany and Andy have a less cluttered guest room for their much anticipated visit that is going to go WAY too fast.

Bye bye desk



Now to sell more stuff out of Mom's basement.