NYC Underground

Battery Park. We seemed to have cut Lady Liberty from our picture.
Sorry for your luck, chick.

I'm back! My trip to New York was fun and refreshing. It's been a while since I hung out with my old friends--that's not a jab at our ages--it's recognition of the durability of friendship.

Let's see...I once fed Melissa mud pies when we were in kindergarten. I played at the park with Steffi, who never questioned my fear of the teeter totter. And in high school, Candy tried to teach me to drive a stick shift, much to her parents' car's dismay.

For years, we kept saying-- one day we will take a trip, but never did it. Then an amazing thing happened-- we all had a weekend free! So, we headed to the Big Apple. We spent three days in the city and covered a lot of ground checking out all the major sights. Times Square, Broadway, Statue of Liberty, One World Trade Center... all the regular, fanny-pack wearing tourist to-do list stuff.

In our travels we also saw the unscheduled, unglamorous excitement of New York.

The Subway.

The most excitement happens underground.

You know, things like the homeless guy peeing in the subway car-- like right there in the car a few feet from us. He produced a stream of urine we had to keep eyes locked on in case it flowed to our feet.  Thankfully, he was polite enough to turn his back to us while he relieved himself.

There were also the unwashed troubadours on the subway. I was so moved by their talent,  I inadvertently tossed a silver necklace into their bucket along with my loose change. It was a very sentimental/real silver necklace, so I had to chase these singers down--interrupting their chorus--to get it back. Not once did my friends question my lunacy. They just laughed knowing I had obviously lost my mind and that was okay--we were on the New York subway! I'd fit right in.

There was the late-nigh preacher, who assured us he was unarmed, which immediately made me think I was about to get shot. Until that moment, I never considered he might be packing heat. He had a message, but it was totally lost on me once I was thinking he dothed protested too much about being harmless.

They weren't all crazy-acting. I had trouble refilling my metrocard and a nice man walked me through it. It seems he was an unofficial subway volunteer who was currently unemployed and without an address to call home. Unlike the pisser, he was an asset to the system and I was happy to give him some cash for the help.

Let's see...there was also the very annoying beggar in the train station that I gave a dollar to if he promised to go away. That wasn't a smart move. I reinforced an infantile approach that will probably get him popped in the nose eventually. He should pair up with the artists and the helpful type and learn to earn a dollar the productive American way.

Here's a few pictures. We took tons, but I hate fighting with pictures on my blog, so here's a sampling! And remember, if you're skipping the subway and Ubering around the city, you're missing out.

Our carriage driver in Central Park. I think they were all Irish. 

The High Line, a walking trail made from abandon rail lines.
(Yes, we did peep in windows of apartments overlooking the path. Buy some blinds already!) 

I snapped a photo and ran. I thought the police said no pictures, seems he said, "Oh, pictures."
Thank God my odd behavior didn't get me tazed.

The Hudson River from the High Line

Fortunately, Rockefeller Center was still decorated for Easter. There is so much to-do over the Christmas tree, I never realized Easter was equally as impressive.

Now that's art!

Having my own well-endowed booty, I was appreciative of Peter's fluffy tail. 

You can check it out from all angles, Peter was on a spinning wheel. 

We also checked out some churches. Hopefully we didn't interrupt any services!
To be respectful, we offered prayers and donations to their poor boxes. 

Looks like the "End of Days" church...you know, the movie with Arnold?

 Celebrate the Small Things. To be part of this blog hop, all you have to do is visit the Celebrate page on Lexa's Blog for the rules, and then post every Friday about something you're grateful  for that week.  It can be about writing or family or school or general life.  This is the funnest and easiest blog hop ever! (Originated by VikLit)

I got Hulu! I readjusted my dish line up and dropped my channels to the bare minimum, then I got Hulu. Now, I can watch when I want to watch and I'm saving some money. 

Conner, boy #4, is gearing up for graduation. I can't believe my baby is going to be graduating. I may be in denial, but I'm trying to wrap my brain around it.

I'm working hard on edits for the next book. There are times when I think it's impossible, but this week I felt like I was making progress, so that's good!! 

Susan Flett Swiderski's new book is available for pre-sale. Not to brag, but I've already read it. I had the pleasure of beta-reading this story and as usual, Susan didn't fail to entertain me. Complex characters in a story that leaves you turning the pages to see what's in store for them. 

Pre-Order now!

The Blurb:

Maybe this time will be different.

Terrible things happen to the people he cares about the most, so it’s safer for Archie Jaworski to simply stop caring. He doesn’t give a flying fandango what anybody says about him, keeps every relationship shallow, and does unto others before they can do unto him.
And then, shortly before he leaves the Army, he spots a pretty widow and her two kids, and all bets are off.
His war hero uncle says he’s not good enough for that perfect little lady, but Archie’s determined to prove him wrong. No matter how many threats his uncle and his fellow officers make to scare him away from their buddy’s widow, and no matter what it takes, he’s determined to meet that family and to seduce that skirt.
What’s more, if she’s a decent cook, he might even marry her
Archie plans his courtship to the smallest detail, but the one thing he forgets to do is keep his feelings under wraps. He doesn’t mean to care about them, but the allure of finally being part of something normal, something good, is more than he can resist.




Maybe this time, no one has to die.