Friday, February 27, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Our Florida Visit
We visited my grandparents in Florida for the holiday weekend, and had the best time ever. Not only are my grandparents in incredibly good health, but they are awesome and FUN. We had such a good time just hanging out and talking.
Each day we went swimming, or on a dinner cruise, or to the beach, or out to eat, or played the bongos, or watched foreign films from “The Vault”, or dodged sand eels, or savored my grandma’s cooking, or checked out grandpa’s latest invention – laughing extremely and side-splittingly hard the entire time. If you think my dad is funny, then you should really meet my grandpa. It’s totally genetic.
We live plane rides away from family, making us appreciate the time we spend with them. Life moves so quickly, changes so fast. We have to use our time wisely and cherish every moment. In Florida, we certainly did.
Each day we went swimming, or on a dinner cruise, or to the beach, or out to eat, or played the bongos, or watched foreign films from “The Vault”, or dodged sand eels, or savored my grandma’s cooking, or checked out grandpa’s latest invention – laughing extremely and side-splittingly hard the entire time. If you think my dad is funny, then you should really meet my grandpa. It’s totally genetic.
We live plane rides away from family, making us appreciate the time we spend with them. Life moves so quickly, changes so fast. We have to use our time wisely and cherish every moment. In Florida, we certainly did.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Follow-up: Pole Dancer
I survived the pole dancing experience and, quite expectedly, laughed a lot. Between the slaps and kicks, there was a lot to laugh about. I made one conclusion - my skill level will not allow me to moonlight by night as an exotic dancer now, but I do see potential for the future.
We learned lots of tricks and moves and, most importantly, I did learn how to swing around a pole. I now have an entirely new perspective of how to creatively use the poles in subway cars. I'm not sure that I released my "inner goddess" on Thursday, but Ben may disagree.
The day after my class, I attempted to demonstrate for Ben the routine I learned. It went so well - he cheered, he clapped, he approved - until I scraped my wrist and got the biggest splinter ever from our hundred year old wooden floor. I had to stop the routine short. Sigh.
Some of us just need to stick with the old nine to five.
We learned lots of tricks and moves and, most importantly, I did learn how to swing around a pole. I now have an entirely new perspective of how to creatively use the poles in subway cars. I'm not sure that I released my "inner goddess" on Thursday, but Ben may disagree.
The day after my class, I attempted to demonstrate for Ben the routine I learned. It went so well - he cheered, he clapped, he approved - until I scraped my wrist and got the biggest splinter ever from our hundred year old wooden floor. I had to stop the routine short. Sigh.
Some of us just need to stick with the old nine to five.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Pole Dancer
Tonight (T-minus 45 minutes), I leave the house to learn the art of “pole dancing”. Oh, yes, you read that correctly. But, please, read it again for an extra laugh.
A girlfriend and I are traveling to Chelsea (a section in Manhattan) to twist, slide, swing, and anything else humanly possible around a pole. I have no idea how this evening will go. I might fracture my face as I attempt the “descending angel” trick or, quite possibly, I might just find my future calling because I always knew I was destined for something greater.
I am ready, though. I am wearing the suggested "tight outfit" and my bag is packed with the required items: yoga mat, water bottle, six inch stilettos (those are actually recommended for the second class), and roll of singles.
I do know one thing for sure… I will laugh a lot and hopefully tone sagging muscles. Although, I seriously doubt that the latter will happen.
A girlfriend and I are traveling to Chelsea (a section in Manhattan) to twist, slide, swing, and anything else humanly possible around a pole. I have no idea how this evening will go. I might fracture my face as I attempt the “descending angel” trick or, quite possibly, I might just find my future calling because I always knew I was destined for something greater.
I am ready, though. I am wearing the suggested "tight outfit" and my bag is packed with the required items: yoga mat, water bottle, six inch stilettos (those are actually recommended for the second class), and roll of singles.
I do know one thing for sure… I will laugh a lot and hopefully tone sagging muscles. Although, I seriously doubt that the latter will happen.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
Washington D.C. Visit
Last weekend, Ben and I took the Fung Wah bus from Penn Station to Washington D.C. Roundtrip we spent only $70 and 9½ hours on a charter bus. Talk about a cheap way to travel. The tolls from NYC to DC alone cost that much!
Unlike our last experience on the Fung Wah, this trip proved to be less eventful. We (and our suitcase) made it safely to and from DC. Only once did the bus pull away from a gas station and leave several passengers in a dead sprint for the closing doors, including Ben.
We stayed in DC with Ben’s best friend, Nick, and his girlfriend. We enjoyed their company, but LOVED their new and humongous apartment. A place so grand, it’s since been taunting us with dreamy house things. Things that New Yorkers long for and most Americans take for granted - washer/dryer, full size appliances (including a dishwasher), full size couches, multiple rooms, a place to park a car… the list goes on.
I had to make my one full day in DC worthwhile. So, while the boys went to THE mall, we girls went to A mall. At first, I felt guilty, a little unpatriotic, about not visiting THE mall; I justified my decision after realizing that shopping at A mall would help the economy and in turn be more American than walking around monuments all day. At least that’s what I told myself.
God bless the USA – it’s public transportation, it’s shiny things, and it’s many malls.
Unlike our last experience on the Fung Wah, this trip proved to be less eventful. We (and our suitcase) made it safely to and from DC. Only once did the bus pull away from a gas station and leave several passengers in a dead sprint for the closing doors, including Ben.
We stayed in DC with Ben’s best friend, Nick, and his girlfriend. We enjoyed their company, but LOVED their new and humongous apartment. A place so grand, it’s since been taunting us with dreamy house things. Things that New Yorkers long for and most Americans take for granted - washer/dryer, full size appliances (including a dishwasher), full size couches, multiple rooms, a place to park a car… the list goes on.
I had to make my one full day in DC worthwhile. So, while the boys went to THE mall, we girls went to A mall. At first, I felt guilty, a little unpatriotic, about not visiting THE mall; I justified my decision after realizing that shopping at A mall would help the economy and in turn be more American than walking around monuments all day. At least that’s what I told myself.
God bless the USA – it’s public transportation, it’s shiny things, and it’s many malls.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Accents
At times, there are noticeable differences in pronunciation, specifically in reference to northern and southern accents. On Friday, a fourth grade student turned to me and asked, “How do you spell coh-wat?”
I said, “Like in the sentence… I caught the ball?”
“No, like… I coh-wat the ball.”
“Right, like you caught the ball.”
“Noooooo, maybe, wait… I didn’t C-AW-T the ball, but I did COH-WAT it.”
That, folks, is an example of what we call a dialectal difference.
I said, “Like in the sentence… I caught the ball?”
“No, like… I coh-wat the ball.”
“Right, like you caught the ball.”
“Noooooo, maybe, wait… I didn’t C-AW-T the ball, but I did COH-WAT it.”
That, folks, is an example of what we call a dialectal difference.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
East Side Memory
There are moments that just feel right. Perfect, almost. This is one of those moments. We met for brunch in the morning and then walked around the East Side. The day ended at dusk with dessert at the Red Hen bakery. Couldn't ask for more.
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