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.

Kim's Visit...long ago

I've had some trouble posting pictures lately and I've been very busy, so some of these pictures are older...but still new to the blog. Kim came at the end of May, so these pictures are from her visit. We had such a blast while she was here. We got to go and do so many things. We spent a whole day in Central Park. We explored the Castle there, the turtle pond, and Strawberry Fields just to name a few of the things we did. We went to see Hairspray on Broadway...which was very high energy and fun. We also walked across the Brookyn Bridge the night of my birthday. True to Kim fashion, she thought this walk was very symbolic...like I was crossing the bridge into my 30's. :) It was nice having her here to help me celebrate. She was so sweet. She brought decorations and muffin mixes to make breakfast. She blew up balloons and hung a happy birthday sign. She really made the day special. I was glad to have here her to help me turn 30. Oh yeah...we ate at Serendipity, Cafe Lalo, Rice to Riches, Alice's Teacup, and in Little Italy. We had such a fun time.

Fathers Day

Hope you all had a great Father's Day. Em, how was your concert?

We had a pretty good one...except that Clemson lost their baseball game. They can't lose anymore or they will be sent home. :( We were all pretty sad about it. I am hopeful they can rebound and move on.

We did have a wonderful dinner. Stephen grilled steaks and we had baked sweet pots (with butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon) and a tossed mixed greens salad with hard rolls. It was SOOOOO yummy! Clair didn't much care for the sweet pots which is sad considering how much she liked them as a baby. She kept saying, "There is hair in my mouth!" They are a bit fibery! Kate loved it all. She kept saying, "this is the best stake ever dad!" or "This is the best sweet potato ever mom." Then for dessert we had some of my yummy homemade peach ice cream. It was fantastic! Wish we could have all been together to share the day!

Love and miss you all tons!

Another Celebrity Sighting

Yesterday, while I was out and about with Uncle Ben, Geraldine, and Nic I saw Ivanka Trump getting into a limo. If you don't know Ivanka...she is "The" Donald's daughter.

Celebrity Sightings

While Kim was in town....it was celebrity sightings galore! (OK, not all the celebrities were really A-listers, but they were celebrities.) Now, let me explain the situation around them. The first picture (tallest guy) is of a Broadway star that was in a TV show with the Olsen Twins. Kim recognized him on the subway and actually spoke to him. He has been up for a couple of Tony Awards for Spamalot, but that is not what Kim recognized him from. She recognized him from the Olsen twins sit-com. Needless to say, he was taken back and a little embarrassed to be recognized from that show. The middle picture is actually what we saw. We were walking in Central Park and we came upon Sarah Michelle Gellar and the dead blonde girl from Lost filming a movie. They are filming "A Girl's Guide to Hunting and Fishing." We were extremely close and got a few good shots. The last picture is of a women named Barbara something. She was on "Suddenly Susan" with Brooke Shields. We were walking down the street and she passed us. I recognized her, but couldn't place her. After walking a little ways off it came to me. Her voice came to me first and then the TV show came. I did have to look her up on the internet to be sure it was "Suddenly Susan." She looked just the same as the picture and the show. So these are who I have seen lately! Stay tuned for more!

Glucola!

I don't mean to make you all jealous...but I got to drink Glucola today! Orange flavored! Yes, it was time for my glucose test. Hopefully I pass it and don't have to do the three hour one. (Last time, with Clair, I failed the one hour test by ONE stinking point and I had to do the three hour test which I easily passed.) Anyway, I also got my finger pricked, and I also got my RH factor shot (since I am O+ and Stephen is A-). That dog hurts like the dirty devil himself! Anyway, so I am feeling a bit like a pin cushion today! Oh well, it is all for Bowen and therefore worth it! Anyway, just wanted to give a little update post.

Not much else going on. Kate got an invitation last night to a birthday party...for a friend at church, Cory. She is SO excited, but little Clair is heart broken she was not invited. So, Stephen told her he would take her on a date. So, she is happy about that, but gets a little sad every time Kate talks about the party (which as I am sure you can imagine, is constantly!) Saturday night can't come fast enough for Kate. It is a pirate party and she even wants to dress like a pirate! I told her that is not required! Crazy girl.

Well, we hope you all have a great week. Mom, stay away from letter openers! :)

Love You All

FDNY in action

The day that mom left NYC we went to Times Square to pick up some last minute gifts for people. We were about to go into this one store when we noticed that everyone was leaving it. We heard the sirens and realized it was on fire. After going to another store we saw the firemen working hard to put out the fire. I quickly got a few shots to share with ya'll. I am pretty sure that there is some sort of city ordinance or law stating that you have to be "HOT" to be a firemen with the NYC fire department. I have never seen any that aren't. Too bad you can't get the full effect of just how good looking they are in these pictures. Enjoy them any way!

Mimi in the "Cozy Corner!"

I have been meaning to post these pictures for ages, but I have been busy with company here. While mom was here we went to the Fillmore's house. Chy's Claire wanted nothing to do with me and everything to do with mom. I guess she could tell she was a Mimi. She wanted to read with her in the "cozy corner" and I caught a picture of it. It was darling!