Tag Archives: Hope

Snow and Tears ……

…… are what the last couple of days have contained.

The snow started Sunday night, and has continued on and off over the following days.
It’s been an eventful couple of days.

Yesterday, after a very hard workout, I took my mom to a late lunch in Chinatown. Son #3 and I had gone to this restaurant back in March. We just happened to come across it and so went in. And experienced one of the best Chinese meals ever.
So I made a note of this restaurant, on my calendar … back in March.

And yesterday it was just as I remembered.
The dish I remember best, and have yearned for since March, was this:

And yes, it was just as fabulous as I had remembered. Hot and Sour Soup. The best I’ve ever had. Anywhere. Hands down.

On our way back from the restaurant we were hit up by the “Pssssst, want a bag? Michael Kors? Tory Burch? Gucci? Louis Vuitton?
And of course, we said …… maybe. Which left us waiting in the dark for about 25 minutes while the illegal bags were obtained and brought back to us.
And we, of course, made a deal, and left with two of them.
I’m hanging my head in shame as I’m typing this.

After returning from our very late lunch, and illegal shopping excursion, I had to leave to go to my last stand up class. It went well.
Now I just need to memorize every single word.

We rehearse our sets on Wednesday, and then we perform them on Sunday.
So help me, God.
And hopefully, He’ll help me.

Today I had a meeting in Harlem at the Head Start school where I’ll be volunteering. It looked like this this morning:

And of course I drug my mom out in the snow to Harlem.
Besides, she wanted to go somewhere for the oh-so-awful-sounding-meal-of-chicken-and-waffles.
Or at least I thought it was awful-sounding.
She loved it.

We went to Amy Ruth’s, which is a pretty well-known place.
I passed up the chicken for some bacon, which was very good. As was the waffle, which I only managed to eat half of.

After that feast (?) we headed back to run a couple of errands and to get ready for tonight’s show.

This is the set. It’s a duplicate of the house where he grew up.

We saw Billy Crystal’s one-man show, “700 Sundays”. It was wonderful. And then very emotional. Especially for me.
But you can read about that here.
But maybe not until midnight, Pacific Time.

All in all, my mom had a great visit. I think I ran her ragged. But I also think she had a great time.
She’s leaving tomorrow morning, and then I’m heading out to see “Betrayal”, which hasn’t received good reviews, but who cares?? It’s Daniel Craig and his wife, the beautiful Rachel Weisz. So it should be entertaining enough.
After that I have my last rehearsal for my stand up routine. Double gulp.
I hope that all of my NY and NJ friends can come to see the show, especially since I won’t have any family there (other than D#3, who’s also performing and who is MUCH more hilarious than I am!).

I’ll miss my mom, but hopefully she’ll be back again soon.

On the move front:
I’ve given the US Post Office my change of address …… to here.
I’ve given my bank my change of address …… to here.
I’ve given my notice at the country club back home.
I’ve let my tennis team captain know that I won’t be back to play on the team (but would love to play any time I visit).
And I’ve made a mental note of all of the things that have to be packed up to be placed in storage, moved up here and sold/given away.

So yes, I’ve decided to live here …. in NY …… full time.
And I’m so excited!!!

On that note, I bid you adieu …… and hope that you all get a good night’s sleep.

Happy Tuesday/Wednesday, Peeps.
🙂

Let It Snow ……

Four Small Words ……

1 Reply

…… that I never thought I’d say. And that those who know me never thought they’d hear/read.

I. Love. Being. Cold.
Totally!!!

I know! Go figure. But trust me, at this point in my life, and some of you know exactly what that point is, being cold feels great. No, I’m not having hot flashes. I don’t seem to have those. I just seem to “run” a whole lot warmer than I used to. And I mostly hate that.
But …… I must say that if this is where I’m going to live …… then God knows exactly what He’s doing. (Big surprise. Not).
It wasn’t all that long ago when I absolutely abhorred the cold.
And “cold” was anything below 50 degrees.
Ha!

As you can see from the picture above, it was in the 30’s this morning. And I took that picture just as I started out on a 2 mile walk to my new book club. It felt great.
I find it so hilarious to see people bundled up from head to toe, literally, when I’m barely finding the need to wear a jacket.
Yesterday it was in the 40’s when I went out in jeggings, and no socks. Unfortunately, I know that I stuck out like a neon light.
Fortunately, I didn’t care.
🙂

So the lunch on Monday was fun. I met 12 women that day, and I wasn’t the only newbie. I had a great time and now have a new restaurant in Tribeca to recommend.
Some of those women were at the book club meeting today. Where I made even more new friends.
And I didn’t even read the book.
Ha!
(Just so you know, the hostess invited me on Monday, and said it was perfectly ok to come without reading the book. And I wasn’t the only new one who hadn’t read it.)

Later this afternoon I decided to go see a movie. I looked up what was showing and found that the next movie was “Thor”. I only live about 5 minutes from an AMC and the movie was supposed to start in 5 minutes. Now, I’ve been to that AMC a few times and I happen to know that they show previews and commercials (ad nauseum) for at least (and I’m not kidding) ….. 20 minutes.
So I knew that I had plenty of time.
And I did.

I made it to the theater and found only one other person sitting in there. Which was no great surprise. I mean, it was “Thor”.
I sat down and started watching commercials.
And commercials.
And commercials.
And more commercials.
And then people started to wander in.
Old people.
Old, female people.
Two, three and four at a time.
Talkative, old, female people.
After two of these people decided to sit in my row, I took stock of my surroundings.
And surmised that I HAD to be in the wrong theater.
Because …… really??!!!

So I went outside to check the marquee.
And it read,”The Book Thief”.
Arghhhhhhhh!!
I walked around the lobby, trying to find the right auditorium (or whatever it’s called in a movie theater), and couldn’t find it.
Double arghhhhhhhhhhh!!!
By that time it was about 30 minutes past the start time and I knew that, even here, I had missed the beginning of “Thor”.
And if there’s one thing I hate (one?), it’s missing ANY of a movie.
So I decided that “The Book Thief” was the movie I was supposed to see today.
And boy was it.
I loved it.
In spite of the tears.
Dang it.

Funny thing. Even though I had looked high and low for the right theater, and hadn’t found it, it was right next to the theater I had gone into. I saw it as soon as I walked out of the theater.
Go figure.

That’s not the only thing I saw.
When I went into the AMC I noticed that they were setting up for a red carpet event.
A movie premiere, ya’ll.
Like ….. big time.
I KNOW!!!

I looked around inside to see if I could figure out what movie was premiering, but I couldn’t, and then in the confusion of what movie was showing where, I forgot about it.
Until I left.
And then the lobby was packed with press and people dressed in black.
Which, if you’ve ever been to NY, or seen any movie set in NY, should come as no surprise.
But still.
The press was there in droves. And there were several tables set up for people to check in.
I paused for about one nano second, or maybe two, to wonder if there was any chance that I’d be able to think of a name …… and check in, but I decided that I really wasn’t dressed appropriately.
Or in enough black.
So I left.
And that’s when I saw even more press. There were vans from all 3 major networks, plus FOX, plus WGN, plus a ton of other networks (except for ESPN. I think.)
I took a quick picture of the red carpet set up …… they had it encased in plastic because of the cold.

Yes, if I were a really good blogger who thought only of her readers, I would’ve stuck around and snapped some pics of celebrities …… all for you.
But it was cold.
And getting colder.
And while I love me some cold …… I’m not insane.
Mostly.

🙂

A Sunday ……

6 Replies

…… by myself …… in New York.
I. Love. It. Here.

Today I took a tour of Grand Central Terminal (which is better known by its incorrect name, Grand Central Station). I love history. Always have. So I was excited for this tour. It was called, “The Secrets of Grand Central”. And yes, I learned quite a few very interesting, though mostly-unknown-to-the-public facts.

And I took a lot of pictures, which I will now share. Be warned: this is probably like someone showing you their vacation photos. Totally boring. Except for those of you who are living vicariously through me. You know you who are. (as do I!)
I hope they don’t bore you too much. If they do, please feel free to go check out Pioneer Woman’s blog. She rocks. 🙂

Just as we started the tour, I saw this couple and thought I’d snap a picture. Or 5.

This was a couple who were practicing some kind of stunt there. Why? I have no idea.

But they were in the background (here debating their next move) behind the happy couple.

Who weren’t really all that happy to have them in the background …… falling.

I love taking pictures of things (people, curves, angles, colors, whatever) of things that just catch my eye. Not anyone else’s. I’m ok with that.

This is a large alcove off of the grand staircase and entry room of the Grand Central. Due to the degree of the curve (geometry makes me hurl) you can stand in one corner and whisper to someone in the opposite corner and they can hear you as clearly as if you were on a phone. It’s SO cool! And very, very strange looking.

More pictures of things I liked.

Look who showed up again!

We moved the tour outside, to see the statues and things on the building.

It was a wee bit overcast today. This building goes much higher than what you can see here.

The clock on the outside of Grand Central? It’s the world’s largest clock made out of Tiffany glass. I know!!! 🙂

After the tour I decided to walk around the city. I found myself in Bryant Park (you know, the capitol of “Fashion Week”, whenever that is). And low and behold, right smack dab in the middle of everything was this:

There was also a Christmas market going on, all around the park. This end is right behind the NY Public Library …… that huge building in the background. I LOVE me some library.

This was a statue outside of the library, decorate for Christmas. I don’t know who it is, but maybe I’ll find that out one day and let you know.

I have no idea what this building is, all I know is that I think it’s very cool.

More evidence of the clouds:

And, last but not least, a carousel. What could be better than that? Especially when you have an ice skating rink right beside it. Score!

So that was my day. Oh, wait ….. I almost forgot. I googled “flea markets near me” and found quite a few. I decided to go to one that was close to my apartment. I was looking for dishes…… specifically plates, since there will be 9 people in my apartment for Thanksgiving. And I don’t have 9 plates. Or should I say, “I didn’t have 9 plates.”??

Because now, after scoring hugely at said flea market …… with these:

Dishes from an entire 12 piece set of china. How hugely was my score? I’m glad you asked. Are you ready? $40.00. I know! I couldn’t believe it, either. That’s what happens when you go to a flea market at the end of a cloudy, somewhat rainy day. You score!! I think I have enough dishes now. Forever. 🙂

That’s it for my Sunday. Tomorrow I’m going to lunch with the …… (drum roll please) …………….. Manhattan Women’s Club. I’m a new member. Don’t ask too many questions, because I don’t have very many answers. It’s a group of women who love Manhattan and try to experience as much of it as they can, from theatres, museums, restaurants, tours, shopping, books …… you name it, they do it. My friend from college, Jeni (who also goes back and forth from her home in Houston to here) is a member and gave me the info for it. So I’m doing lunch with them tomorrow and I need to finish the book they’re doing for their book club (Garlic and Sapphires). But I have another couple of weeks for that.

Oh, and then there’s my homework for the standup comedy class that I’m taking. Yes. Yes, I am. Daughter #3 is taking it, too. We’re performing at a comedy club here in NY on December 15th (which I try not to think about because I truly feel like hurling at that thought).

On that note, I’m done. Thanks so much to each and every one of you for contacting me and wanting to be here, reading what I write. I think you’re a bit insane, but then there’s no accounting for taste. Right?

Happy Sunday. From New York. 🙂

Life Goes On ……

5 Replies

…… as does blogging.

Sometimes it starts with a new place. As it has with me. And this blog.

I’ve moved from Texas to New York. If anyone would’ve told me 5 years ago that I’d be living here, in NYC, on my own, I would’ve told them that they were crazy. After Jim died, I knew that I would never leave Texas, never leave our community. It’s funny how time changes things. And people. Some for worse. And some for better. I’ve been through both. On many levels. But now, in my second Part A, I’m seeing mostly better.

So I’m living in NY. Mostly. I still have a home in Texas and so I have to go back there periodically. But I don’t stay long. I don’t miss much about Texas. It’s a very bittersweet place for me now. My husband and I lived there for 16 1/2 years. And it was mostly wonderful. I never wanted to live in Texas. In fact, I told him that I would live almost anywhere, but not there. God has a big sense of humor, does He not?

Not long after telling Jim that I wouldn’t live in Texas, he was transferred there. And so we moved. And I hated it. Hugely. For the first year. It took me that long to know that everything would be ok. One full year. That would later be a guide for me. The “one full year” ruler. If I could survive for a full year, then I knew I’d be ok. Not that I used that ruler after Jim died. I knew better than that. I wasn’t foolish enough to believe that I’d be ok after only a year. No way. No how. It took more like five.

And here I am …… almost six years out, and I’m ok. In fact, I’m more than ok. I’m really living. And living as fully as I can. Jim would be very proud. I know I am. Not that life is perfect. No life is. These past 6 years have taken a toll on me, my children and our family. But it was what it was. And it is what it is. Children are still growing up. And maturing. Sometimes that’s a very, very hard road. For everyone involved. Add to that a dead parent, and the road is almost impossible to traverse. I know this much …… it’s impossible to come out of it unchanged.

I am changed. My children are changed. Our family is changed. I never saw any of this coming. I never pictured our family looking the way it looks today. Thankfully. But it is our family. For good and for bad. It’s my family.

So again, here I am in NY. And I love it. Very, very much. I’m starting the second part of my life here. I don’t know how long I’ll live here. Or if I’ll ever live here full time. But I do know, that for now …… right now …… it’s where I want to be. This city has been described as resilient, energetic and optimistic. So it’s the right place for me. Because now …… 6 years later …… so am I.

🙂

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My Second Plan A

After my first Plan A ended tragically, and all too soon, I came up with my second Plan A. It took a while, but now I'm ready to live again. And live fully.