Brooklyn Bridge

Hi friends!  I changed the settings on the blog, so hopefully everyone can comment now.

Today I ventured into Brooklyn for the first time.  I admit that I only went far enough into Brooklyn to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, but hey, it's a start.  It was a gorgeous day with highs in the 70's - perfect for some amazing pictures! The bridge has a lane for walkers and cyclists, which became a little dicey at times, but I survived. 

I love having the red, white and blue flying at the top!

Check out Manhattan!  I love the One World Trade Center.

Look at the Manhattan Bridge across the East River!

This reminds me of Paris, where people placed locks on the Pont des Arts bridge and threw the key in the Seine when they are in love!  They had to remove all the locks from the bridge though, because part of it fell over from the weight of the locks.  Yikes.  That's a lotta love though.

 And it seems here in the US, we show our love with earbuds. 

 And hello Empire State Building and Chrysler building!!

 Lady Liberty!

To top off the great day, I had some delicious Turkish food that was somehow delivered within 15 minutes of my online order, and delicious raspberries from the local fruit stand on a beautiful appetizer plate that a dear friend of mine gave me. 

Central Park

I got lost in Central Park today.  Again.  I would bet money that most of the people that are looking at their cell phones while wandering in Central Park are actually using a GPS app, trying to figure out how to get out of the park.  Because it's that big.  When I went running on Sunday morning, I happened upon a competitive run in the park (which is why I got lost in Central Park the first time).

So I had to run on a less traveled path to get out of their way.  I ran up to a gorgeous plaza with a fountain, and then a serene area with this bridge. 

Around the park are some of the most beautiful buildings.  The architecture in this city amazes me.

I found a beautiful, secluded gazebo at the bottom of a path.  I didn't get too close though, as a homeless person was sleeping there.  However, my father was right.  I could actually live in Central Park. 

Today I went for another run and came upon several unique bridges.  My pictures do not do them justice.  You all will just have to visit me in order to see them in person.

I found a garden devoted to Shakespeare.

And beyond those trees is a theatre in which actors perform free Shakespearean plays. 

I just adored this view.

Does your park have a castle?  Does it?

On a side note, my subway line malfunctioned this week and I decided to walk to a bus line.  I just happened upon the Waldorf-Astoria hotel on Park Avenue.  Perhaps I should have lingered for a bit for a date with a distinguished gentleman.  I did meet a random older gentleman that was heading towards the southern part of Manhattan to play some Bluegrass.   

My library > your library.

It even has lion statues.

New York, New York!!

Hello friends! 

So I've finally made it to Manhattan!  That's my island there!

I'm slowly getting settled in and I absolutely love my neighborhood.  I woke up this morning to a ten block street fair, with vendors selling goods and delicious food...like this lobster roll.

Yum!!  I am eight blocks from Central Park, which is amazingly quiet despite being so close to this lively and loud city.  I went for a run yesterday and happened upon a guy playing a bagpipe.

There are two grocery stores within a block of my apartment, and several gourmet grocery stores easily within walking distance.  This is very important to me.  :)  There is such a variety of people here.  I love the elderly ladies.  Most are with full, bright makeup (red lips and blue eyeshadow) and oftentimes, a strong scowl, which I imagine is from their disdain of kids these days. 

I still love that the shopping carts have their own escalators here.  This was at Bed Bath & Beyond.  Too cool.

Mom and I also checked out Bloomingdale's.  One day, when I get paid again, I will return.  :)

We also saw these amazing, old, wooden escalator steps at Macy's in Herald Square. 

And then I saw this wine in a store and had to buy it.  Cheers!

Shopping Insights

I went shopping today for a new top to wear for interviews with my beloved Banana Republic suit, and I noted some interesting observations about myself.

*I actually vocally scoffed at the incredibly short shorts at Express, and then I shook my head.  Oh how the tide has turned.

*I love that there were few people at the mall, except for me and the elderly walking their laps along the outer circumference.

*There are so many sheer shirts!  Do we have no modesty?  Oh wait...I own a few already...but still.  They're everywhere, even Banana Republic's nice blouses.  Hmmm.

*These younguns drive their cars so fast!

*I walked out with an Ann Taylor bag, while a granny passed me by with a Forever 21 bag.  Figure that one out.

I have become an old person inside.  And I love it.  It's after 8pm....time for bed.  ;-)

Thoughts

• It's interesting to me how you first meet a person and get an idea about them.  Then you get to know them better, and that idea changes, sometimes quite drastically.  Or they do something and it makes you wonder why you originally thought they were the former way.  Or perhaps I'm just a bad judge of character and naive, and like to see the best in people.
• People that drive 35 mph in a 35 mph zone from 4am - 6am should not exist.  My Houston driving habits are not a fan. 
• I love friends that help you find humor in the most stressful or irritating situations.  It feels so good to just belly laugh.
• I'm ready to move on to my next location.  I've moved every two years since college and have the itch again.  20 more months and counting.
• I've become much more anal as my career is progressing....but other people's quirks bother me.  Oh the irony.

Random rantings

*You know that moment when you're in the dressing room and realize that, indeed, your rear end and thighs are much bigger than you visualized in the cute skinny jeans. But it ends up saving you money, since you're too disgusted to grab a larger pair to try on.

*A homeless man walked by me at the library and said "Mmm....you got it going on girl." Initially, I was a bit turned off. Then I thought, damn straight. That new lip stuff was really worth it.

*I am amazed at how many preggers expect to get an epidural and not feel a single thing during delivery. And how they request an epidural before the contractions are even slightly painful.

*I absolutely love every song I've heard off the most recent Pitbull album, along with random country songs like "Bait a Hook" and "Good Girl." Makes me miss dancing. A lot. One month til Texas dancing.

*I can't believe I'm actually still training for this half-marathon. (Pat on the back.) I'm ready to be done, just to not be hungry all the time. Plus, without a running partner for these long runs, I sure wouldn't be doing them.

*Wow, match day was two years ago. Crazy how time flies.

*I got my first Birchbox the other day. It's like Christmas every month with a box of beauty goodies. I highly recommend it!!

*Are you ever at the gym on your cardio machine, watching your TV when a guy gets on the elliptical beside you who cracks up loudly, along with big arm motions, while watching Seinfeld? He made me smile a lot and feel somewhat normal. I definitely yell at the TV while at the gym watching sports.

*God is so good.