New York I

I have been in New York for the past three weeks for business (with a wonderful Memorial Day break at the Heller Home). I've been staying in Midtown Manhattan near Bryant Park and Times Square.

Times Square/Broadway

Times Square was very glitzy and awe inspiring - the first time. Still cool - the second time. Taking parallel streets - to avoid a third time. There is very little order in navigating the streets around Times Square and you are constantly dodging left and right. Don't get me wrong, other streets are crowded, but those are mostly locals who move straight and fast and orderly. We tourists seem to screw it up on Broadway.

Annie, eat your heart out. This Toys R Us has a Ferris wheel AND a scary dragon (or a T-Rex if you want to be uppity about it ;-)

Catch Me If You Can: It was a fun show and if you liked the movie, you'll like the musical. The guy who plays the FBI agent was hilarious.

Billy Elliot: I left before intermission. That poor littler f@%$er couldn't keep me interested. It was a combination of a really bad seat, incompatible political views and gratuitous cussing which was the only way this musical could show any emotion or humor.

Angelo's Pizza was tasty. Next door to Sullivan Theater (Letterman's show).

New York II

The Metropolitan Museum

The museum is absolutely massive and I had to take two trips. It is probably my favorite place in NY. I got a stern talking to for taking this video of a panorama painting in a circular room. The few pictures I have don't do the museum justice.

New York III

Liberty & Ellis Islands
In most pictures you don't get a sense of how massive the pedestal upon which Lady Liberty stands (and the pedestal is build upon a fort - the darker stone at the bottom).
Look, I was really there.
Have you ever seen her backside?
The entrance into the fort and pedestal.
The old torch that was replaced in the 80's sits in the fort.
They say the copper plating that makes up the statue is only two pennies thick, but it wasn't sheer enough to get a Britney shot.
Ellis Island was a little depressing, but not disappointing. Immigrants would make a harrowing journey to a New York port and then board a ferry to Ellis Island. Although only a relatively small percentage (2%) got sent home due to medical or political reasons, this was a place for screening people. As such, it was not a joyous place despite being a very humane place to process so many immigrants during that time. The island has been nicknamed the Isle of Hope (for the vast majority who made it in) and the Isle of Tears (for those who didn't).

We miss you Daddy!

Plans for this weekend were wonderful. First Shabat Dinner with Naomi her husband, and little David. Then, Saturday, babysitter for Annie and big cocktail party with the old gang for Mommy. Sunday, it was to be Lisa and Kiera out for a visit to our house. Doesnt that weekend sound awesome?

Well, instead, Annie is covered with a head to toe rash (I will spare you the pics) brought on by an allergy to ammoxicillin on day 8.

Annie had never been sick before and she had an "itchy" throat so we took her in because I wanted to know if it was allergies. In the end it "looked like" she might have an ear infection starting. She might have had more going on, or less, but due to her massive temper tantrum the Dr. was not able to get close enough to look. New mom's with their infants sat in horror as Annie had to be forced through the frame of the door as she clung for dear life screaming "I don't like her, I don't like to Mommy. I want to go home Mommy!!!".

So in the end we treated with antibiotics for what looked like the onset of an ear infection that turned into a rash far worse than what we went in for. So, this weekend it's just Mommy and Annie. Plans include: Keeping Annie comfortable, Keeping Annie comfortable, and...Keeping Annie comfortable.  Naomi was awesome and did bring some freshly baked cookies to Annie and I, lovely lovely friend.

We miss Daddy VERY much. Anyhow, we hope everyone enjoys this stormy weekend and we will be back next weekend when DADDY IS HOME FOR GOOD!