Oh Kate!

So, about two weeks ago, Kate notices a school bus driving by. She asks why the school buses are still going by when school is out for the summer. I told her that some kids don't do well in school and so they have to go to summer school to get extra help.

Fast forward two weeks...this afternoon we are eating lunch when the school bus goes by. Kate says, "There goes the school bus. I wish I hadn't done so well in preschool so I could be going to summer school. Although, I mostly like the playing part."

I about fell over laughing. Where do these thoughts come from? Like preschool was a pass or fail situation? Too funny!

Botanical Gardens

Here is a fountain at the New York Botanical Gardens. The buildling behind is the specimen library and gallery. They had a neat display of watercolors in the gallery. The Rotunda was also amazing, but no pictures allowed inside.

This is one of the green houses, from the outside. There are lily ponds on the outside. I will have to blog other pictures later. My computer is acting odd today.

Celebrity Sighting

This is Stephen Spinella...he played a character on 24. He is scum on the show. I saw him on the subway platform near my house. He walked by me and I recognized him as soon as he opened his mouth and spoke. He has a distinctive voice.

Pre-Concert Photos

Before the concert started, my friends Karen, Rachel, and I ran into some old friends. We just had to take our picture with them! :) It was nice of Faith to let me put my arm around her man...now if only he had put his around me! As you can tell...Tim was just "glowing" to see us!
While walking into the concert...I had to get a picture of Madison Square Garden's front entrance. My only regret is that I never made it to a Hockey game here or a Knicks game. Now that they fired Larry Brown...I doubt I ever will go see one in this arena. :( Does anyone recognize this sign/entrance at Madison Square Garden? If you said it is from "How to Loose a Guy in 10 Days" you are correct! When Kate and Matt's characters are walking out of the Celion Dion concert...this is the door the exited. Watch the movie again...you will recognize it! (Just a little NYC movie trivia! This place is full of it!)

Friday Night was Soul II Soul

Last Friday night my roommates and a few friends went to see Tim McGraw and Faith Hill in concert. It was great. I think they have ruined me for LIFE with concerts. I don't think any concert can be better. Faith opened the concert at one end of the stage sing their latest duet, "Like We've Never loved before." It was beautiful and I almost bawled!
This is the both of them singing their opening act...fabulous! I loved it.
Here is Madison Square Garden...the venue before the concert began. We were a little high, but still not the highest level. Actually I don't think there was a bad place in the whole Garden.
A surprise guest came out and sang with Tim. It was Tony Bennett. The just finished recording together a Hank Williams song. It was actually surprisingly good. You can't really tell this from the picture, but Tim is a major hotty! I have to say that Faith is one lucky women! :)
Faith during her "solo" time. She started out the concert and then they sang a few together. Tim then had some alone time and they ended with a few more duets. The whole thing was beautiful.
From left to right...Kristan, Rachel, Karen, and ME! These are the girls I sat with. My roommates were across the venue from us. We had really great seats!

Central Park in June

My friend Stephanie and I took a walking tour of Central Park last Wednesday. It was very interesting and I feel like I learned a lot. I love Central Park and totally understand why it is the "Backyard" of the city. I found many little spots that I would love to go back to and explore. There is a little garden called "Shakespeare's Garden." It is gorgeous. I will have to go back to get pictures. The top picture is of the "Imagine" mosaic which is found in Strawberry Fields...directly across from the Dakota apartment building where John Lennon was killed and where Oko still lives. Also Oko's personal gardeners take care of Strawberry Fields...eventhough it is part of Central Park. Now sing along..."Imagine all the people living in this world...U-huuuu!" This is the "Sheep's Meadow." When the park first was...there were sheep. Ros you would have loved it. Tavern on the Green (a now famous restuarant) used to house the sheep.
This is the "Boathouse Restuarant." It is very expensive...but I would love to go there some day. You can rent row boats (which I want to do before I leave) for only $10. That would be fun.
This is the famous fountain that has been seen in many movies. It is really beautiful.

Last Saturay's Celebrity Sighting will really Date me!

So last Saturday I was renting a video at the Blockbuster across the street from my apartment and I noticed a familiar looking guy. He was with his little boy and girl. He started speaking and I recognized him instantly. It was the blonde guy from the 80's show Bosom Buddies. Not Tom Hanks, but Peter Scolari. He was also in the television version of "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids." He pretty much looked the same...only his hair was not 80's style.

Take me out to the Ball game

Monday night was "Mormon Night at the Mets game." Here are my roommates Kristen and Lindsay...enjoying an Italian Sausage with peppers. Nothing like ball park food.
The missionaries from one of the NYC missions came and sang the National Anthem. They are all the white shirts you see in this picture.
Here are my friends Kristan and Karen sitting right above me. I sure will miss these two when I leave. They have been good friends.
Here is the Mets field during the game. I know it looks far away. What do you expect for $5?
My roommate Kirstyn, me, and my friend Kelly enjoying the game. We actually left after the 7th inning stretch. It started raining, the major player for the Reds (can't remember his name...something junior) had already hit a homerun, we had sung "Take me out to the ball game" so we figured we got the experience. It was fun. Now I just have to go to a Yankees game. Joel where are you when I need you!?

She's growing up so fast....

Clair is growing up so fast, she has gone from learning to use the potty...to using MAKE-UP!
All in one morning!

Tuesday's Celebrity Sight

I don't know if I am getting better at spotting them or if there are just more of them out and about because the weather has been nice...but I had another celebrity sighting today. As I was walking home from campus I ran into Paige Davis. Now for those of you who are not Trading Spaces fans you won't know her...but if you are a watcher...it is the hostess from the show Trading Spaces of TLC. She is taller than I thought and very pretty. I saw her just up the road from my apartment. I will try to post her picture later!

A Day at the USS Intrepid

On Friday, while Ben was finishing up his class, Geraldine, Nic and I visited the USS Intrepid. It was such a neat museum. I have never been aboard a ship like it before. It was used during WWII and it has such a large amount of history. The runway was full of jets and planes of all types.

Here we see these two getting cozy with the founders of the Intrepid Air and Space Museum. Here you see Nic in a fighter jet cockpit.
Anchors away...all hands on deck...Admiral Emily is at the Helm! This was a similator that you could practice your steering skills. I did really well...if I say so myself!
Move over Maverick...Emily the new "TOP GUN!" I had my own experience in the cockpit! I look right at home don't I?

Broadway and the visiting fam

The last night, Friday, the family was in town Nic and I stood in line for Student Rush tickets. They are front row tickets and they are only $20. You can't beat that. We went to see Tarzan and it was fabulous. It is right up there with Wicked and Hairspray in my book. It had great music and amazing costuming. I really enjoyed it and I think the others did too. Nic and I about wet our pants during one scene when the "gorilla" came right up to the edge of the stage and roared at us. You know it is not real, but man it is a little scary. The girl next to me practically was sitting in my lap and she did grab my arm at one point. Kate would not have appreciated the loud thunder or the jaguar...the gorillas were a little scary too. Basically not a show for Kate and probably Clair too. Now who knows with Brooklyn...I could see her wanting to swing from the branches with the gorillas. (That girl is fearless!) :)
We had a "Girl's Night Out" while everyone was here. Geraldine and I got tickets to see Julia Roberts on Broadway in "Three Days of Rain." We had awesome seats...10th row. It was great fun. Julia Roberts is very beautiful. TV and the big screen do not do her justice. After we saw her come out and get in her car. We were across the street, but she signed a few autographs and went on her way. It was a once in a life time chance and I am glad we took it!

The Museum of Modern Art

While Geraldine and Nic were here we visited the Museum of Modern Art. It was really neat. Here are some of my favorites. Starry Night by VanGogh has always been a favorite and I loved seeing it. Andy Warhols' campbell soup labels was interesting as was the giant piece of cake. Knowing my love of sweets I had to capture that thing on film. I also like Picaso's Three Musicans. It was neat, but like all Modern Art places there was the weird too. I just didn't waste digital camera space on it.

Family Times in New York

While Uncle Ben, Geraldine, and Nic were in the "Big Apple" we did lots of fun and exciting things. We took a carriage ride through Central Park. Geraldine and I tickled some ivories like Tom Hanks in the movie BIG at FAO. We took the double decker bus tour of Uptown. We saw the Apollo in Harlem, General/President Grants tomb (down the street from Columbia), and the Soup Nazi's resturant from Seinfield. It was neat and I learned alot. I have to admit that our tour guide was a bit ODD, but I still walked away a little more knowledgeable about the island I have been living on the past year.

The Statue of Liberty

Here am I...the little bitty thing under "Lady Liberty" herself! You can barely see me...but trust me...it's me.
Here is a picture of the skyline from the boat on the way back to Manhattan from Ellis Island.
This is just a picture to remind me that the French once gave us something nice. She really is beautiful. I was once again struck by the beauty and magnificance of her. We didn't get to go inside...only about 150 people a day get to go up to her feet. Since I went all the way up when I was in 5th grade I didn't feeel so bad. We also went to Ellis Island, which was amazing. I could have spent hours and hours there. On the wall of immigrants that passed through, I found Call's, St.Clair's and Ratcliffs. It was neat to walk the paths that so many walked to come to freedom. Man I am lucky to have just been born here!

A few more with Kim

I couldn't get all of these pictures to post with the last blog, so here are a few more. I hope you enjoy these.