Miracles happen every day
Nov. 21st, 2008 04:29 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shalanna"Be careful what you wish for . . . you might get it," as the wag said.
I know I haven't updated and LJ has all but forgotten me, but I'm the one in the third row wearing the orange hat with the purple tulle ball gown. You know, the quiet, shy one.
I only have a moment to type this and then I have to go pick up some prescriptions, but wow . . . everything happens at once. At least I can't say I'm ever BORED.
I have been SO snowed under with events cascading down on my head like hyperactive dominoes that I haven't had time to compose a decent post. I still may not do a decent post this time, but at least I'll put some of the boring parts under an LJ-cut.
The short version is that first my mom went into the hospital and stayed three days (coming home late on Thursday before last), and then all three of us came down with an awful stomach bug over that weekend which lasted a week, and all of that washing of bedclothes and dishes and so forth literally ate my last two weeks. (Housework not only makes you ugly, but it eats your life. Especially when you can't keep the, um, yuckstuff cleaned up for more than a couple of hours. The doctor claims we all three had DIFFERENT bugs that he thinks we picked up visiting the hospital--first when Mama was there, and later when hubby went to the E. R. the Sunday morning after that with that unstoppable rainbowyawn.) I'm trying to get ready for Thanksgiving and also for a trip to NYC from Dec 2-9, and it is overwhelming!
Yes . . . you read right!
On Wednesday when I was so sick, hubster called from work (where he'd gone in for a meeting--bad move, as it caused his stomach prob to recycle) and said, "So when are the dates for that trip you won?"
I yelped, though I still had such a painful midsection and headache.
(gruffly) "Yes, I'll go. IF you make ALL the arrangements. I have to fill out my vacation form now."
He said that IF all he has to do is get into the car and on the various trains, he'll go, but he still has all his original concerns. But this is a "success," as I term it! Yay!
Assuming everyone gets over this stuff within the 10 days before we depart, I mean. They've both spent the past week in bed sick. So--here's the deal. First, I have to do Thanksgiving. On the Friday or Saturday after the holiday, I'll get Mama and her medical equipment packed into the van, the dog and his food/care stuff into the van, etc., and drive them 60 miles north to my elderly aunt's house and get them settled to stay almost 10 days. (I hope to get someone from Aunt's church to come check on them twice a day for pay and make sure they are getting food, etc., and another relative should come by daily at mid-day.) Then I get to rush back home and pack all our stuff and make us ready for departure on the train early Dec. 1.
We travel to Chicago on the Texas Eagle in a roomette. Get there on Dec. 2 in the afternoon. Then have a layover until 10 PM.
SO! Question one, for ANYONE. (OR feel free to send me the e-mail of a helpful friend/relative of yours from that area.) I want to see some Christmas sights that afternoon/eve and have a moderately priced dinner, then find a coffeeshop for people-watching and netsurfing. Chicago's Union Station is on Canal Street in the middle of downtown. What would you say would be the place nearby to see or hang out? Maybe there's a downtown mall? Sears Tower is a few blocks away.
THEN we re-board the Amtrak Lake Shore Express to NYC. Sleep on the train and arrive at Penn Station on Dec. 3rd in early afternoon. Then we'll go to the Roosevelt Hotel (Look THAT one up . . . ritzy! And the contest is paying) to get settled in. I then want to go to the lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree at 7 PM and have dinner nearby. I may freeze my tail off and Hubster (who is so sensitive to cold) may not come with me to the mob scene, but I want to. (I bought a coat . . . still may not be warm enough. We are both native Texans and have never been out of the Southwest/Texas/California during the winter.)
Then we have Dec 4 free until around 5 PM when all the other contestants arrive and we get together for our orientation and preview of contest rules and area. (I plan to see some sights or just walk down Fifth Avenue.) He's so afraid he "can't get enough food that he's allowed to eat," but I told him to not worry about the diabetes EVERY MOMENT during a special occasion. Hey, if you can't find food in NYC, the world capital of food with the possible exception of Paris, France, you're doomed, eh?
(That's another reason our stomachs have to be calmed down by that time.)
Contest takes place on that Friday the 5th. Four rounds of elimination, eight people narrowed to four narrowed to two and then the one-on-one. Pray that I don't humiliate myself TOO much. It's a gift-wrapping contest, after all. My coordinator told me I was chosen on the strength of my essay and because I said I like to make packages look like something else (bracelets like doughnuts, skillets like Jiffy Pop packages.) But I am slow! I make my own bows. If the others are fast, I'll go out in rounds one or two. But I don't care--the prize is the trip, for me. (At least two of the contestants will be on Good Morning America or Today Show . . . at least briefly. Woo!)
Then we have Saturday free. I have lots of plans. Want to see Katharine Hepburn's townhouse in Turtle Bay (it is up for rent-$40K a month), Central Park, several other places. Walk in Central Park to see "Strawberry Fields" (John Lennon's memorial) and the carousel and zoo. Go to the "Annie Hall" and "Manhattan" spots. See "Tavern on the Green."
I also plan to find and ride the Cash Cab. (If you watch the show on Discovery, you know what I mean. It's a game show in a taxi!) Perhaps I should e-mail Ben the driver and tell him I am comin' all th' way from Texas to ride in his cab and ask where to pick it up. . . .
One thing I don't have to worry about--at last, I won't be the weirdest one on the street! I cannot possibly be the most oddly dressed person in all of NYC. So I can stop feeling self-conscious. We do, however, have to get Hubby some non-nerd clothes in case restaurants have dress codes.
QUESTION 2: Where would YOU go? I Need Souvenirs. Moderately priced, things that you can't get other places, stuff for youngsters and oldsters. . . .
Then early on Sunday we board the return Lake Shore Express. A shorter layover in Chicago that time, and we may just stay in the Amtrak lounge in their station. Then back to Dallas on Texas Eagle, to arrive on Dec. 9th. Whew!! That's a long time!
I'm eager to hear any suggestions you have about travel. Or about where to go on Canal Street/downtown Chicago when you have a few hours. Or about what to do in NYC.
I'm trying to pack ONLY ten pieces (pants, jackets, tops, one skirt, one dress) of fancy stuff for NYC in the checked luggage and then ONLY a couple of changes of clothes in the carry-ons (for the train and for when we get off in Chicago, so they have to be warm layers.) The contest people mailed me a sweatshirt that we're supposed to wear during the contest and at any time we're photographed or interviewed by the media. Problem is--it's a little tight on the Rack of Doom, and it's YELLOW, the most unflattering color ever! I already had two suits from Macy's/Neiman's* all coordinated: a wool swing jacket in red, and a more structured capelet thing in black/white, each accessorized. If I'm to be on "Today," I'll be hanged if I don't wear my Neiman's jacket and flamingo-pink pashmina!! I cannot have my fifteen minutes of fame wearing a faded-yellow logo sweatshirt that makes me look like Moms Mabley! *pout*
* (Using credit cards to help the economy, of course. I did my part!!)
It goes without sayin' that I already have my tiara made. (Wal-Mart, rhinestones, but from the Rhine river after all.)
Any suggestions? I have never been anywhere except the Southwest, California, all over Texas, to Louisiana and Oklahoma for short excursions. (Except for a Washington, D. C/ Tennessee trip as a child, but that was when I was five.) I know it'll be cold. Mama is so worried that I'll be robbed and mugged, but I told her, "Look, Giuliani cleaned the place up. We're going to Woody Allen's New York, not the West Side Story New York." Still, it is worrisome, but we will be with a group most of the time, and will be doing excursions during the day.
Anyhow--sorry for the long SQUEEE post, but because I've spent most of the past two years taking care of everyone's health probs and trying to write a book that would sell, I don't have anyone else to tell and it's just bursting out. *wry grin* The girlfriends I used to have IRL were calling regularly up until a few months ago--well, except for the two who moved away and forgot Dallas, and the one who had twins and now doesn't have time for ANYthing else (which I understand!)--but they got turned down every time for excursions because of all my other responsibilities (and because Mama was terrified for me to leave the house without her, and often she couldn't go along because of her bad asthma and other stuff.) So they finally stopped calling, and I'm majorly disconnected. I only talk to doctors, Mama's friends/contacts, my aunts, one neighbor, Dennis, and myself these days. And YOU! If it weren't for the friends I have on the 'net, there'd be nobody! *sob* But this isn't supposed to be a poor-me tale, so I'll shut up about it. This is a great chance, and I hope it does work out.
Any suggestions in general for travel are welcome. Don't y'all travel? Anyone? Bueller?
# # #
"Let's go. I want to watch that early worm get the bird."--some screwball comedy from the thirties that I half-overheard from TV while strolling hospital corridors
I know I haven't updated and LJ has all but forgotten me, but I'm the one in the third row wearing the orange hat with the purple tulle ball gown. You know, the quiet, shy one.
I only have a moment to type this and then I have to go pick up some prescriptions, but wow . . . everything happens at once. At least I can't say I'm ever BORED.
I have been SO snowed under with events cascading down on my head like hyperactive dominoes that I haven't had time to compose a decent post. I still may not do a decent post this time, but at least I'll put some of the boring parts under an LJ-cut.
The short version is that first my mom went into the hospital and stayed three days (coming home late on Thursday before last), and then all three of us came down with an awful stomach bug over that weekend which lasted a week, and all of that washing of bedclothes and dishes and so forth literally ate my last two weeks. (Housework not only makes you ugly, but it eats your life. Especially when you can't keep the, um, yuckstuff cleaned up for more than a couple of hours. The doctor claims we all three had DIFFERENT bugs that he thinks we picked up visiting the hospital--first when Mama was there, and later when hubby went to the E. R. the Sunday morning after that with that unstoppable rainbowyawn.) I'm trying to get ready for Thanksgiving and also for a trip to NYC from Dec 2-9, and it is overwhelming!
Yes . . . you read right!
On Wednesday when I was so sick, hubster called from work (where he'd gone in for a meeting--bad move, as it caused his stomach prob to recycle) and said, "So when are the dates for that trip you won?"
I yelped, though I still had such a painful midsection and headache.
(gruffly) "Yes, I'll go. IF you make ALL the arrangements. I have to fill out my vacation form now."
He said that IF all he has to do is get into the car and on the various trains, he'll go, but he still has all his original concerns. But this is a "success," as I term it! Yay!
Assuming everyone gets over this stuff within the 10 days before we depart, I mean. They've both spent the past week in bed sick. So--here's the deal. First, I have to do Thanksgiving. On the Friday or Saturday after the holiday, I'll get Mama and her medical equipment packed into the van, the dog and his food/care stuff into the van, etc., and drive them 60 miles north to my elderly aunt's house and get them settled to stay almost 10 days. (I hope to get someone from Aunt's church to come check on them twice a day for pay and make sure they are getting food, etc., and another relative should come by daily at mid-day.) Then I get to rush back home and pack all our stuff and make us ready for departure on the train early Dec. 1.
We travel to Chicago on the Texas Eagle in a roomette. Get there on Dec. 2 in the afternoon. Then have a layover until 10 PM.
SO! Question one, for ANYONE. (OR feel free to send me the e-mail of a helpful friend/relative of yours from that area.) I want to see some Christmas sights that afternoon/eve and have a moderately priced dinner, then find a coffeeshop for people-watching and netsurfing. Chicago's Union Station is on Canal Street in the middle of downtown. What would you say would be the place nearby to see or hang out? Maybe there's a downtown mall? Sears Tower is a few blocks away.
THEN we re-board the Amtrak Lake Shore Express to NYC. Sleep on the train and arrive at Penn Station on Dec. 3rd in early afternoon. Then we'll go to the Roosevelt Hotel (Look THAT one up . . . ritzy! And the contest is paying) to get settled in. I then want to go to the lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree at 7 PM and have dinner nearby. I may freeze my tail off and Hubster (who is so sensitive to cold) may not come with me to the mob scene, but I want to. (I bought a coat . . . still may not be warm enough. We are both native Texans and have never been out of the Southwest/Texas/California during the winter.)
Then we have Dec 4 free until around 5 PM when all the other contestants arrive and we get together for our orientation and preview of contest rules and area. (I plan to see some sights or just walk down Fifth Avenue.) He's so afraid he "can't get enough food that he's allowed to eat," but I told him to not worry about the diabetes EVERY MOMENT during a special occasion. Hey, if you can't find food in NYC, the world capital of food with the possible exception of Paris, France, you're doomed, eh?
(That's another reason our stomachs have to be calmed down by that time.)
Contest takes place on that Friday the 5th. Four rounds of elimination, eight people narrowed to four narrowed to two and then the one-on-one. Pray that I don't humiliate myself TOO much. It's a gift-wrapping contest, after all. My coordinator told me I was chosen on the strength of my essay and because I said I like to make packages look like something else (bracelets like doughnuts, skillets like Jiffy Pop packages.) But I am slow! I make my own bows. If the others are fast, I'll go out in rounds one or two. But I don't care--the prize is the trip, for me. (At least two of the contestants will be on Good Morning America or Today Show . . . at least briefly. Woo!)
Then we have Saturday free. I have lots of plans. Want to see Katharine Hepburn's townhouse in Turtle Bay (it is up for rent-$40K a month), Central Park, several other places. Walk in Central Park to see "Strawberry Fields" (John Lennon's memorial) and the carousel and zoo. Go to the "Annie Hall" and "Manhattan" spots. See "Tavern on the Green."
I also plan to find and ride the Cash Cab. (If you watch the show on Discovery, you know what I mean. It's a game show in a taxi!) Perhaps I should e-mail Ben the driver and tell him I am comin' all th' way from Texas to ride in his cab and ask where to pick it up. . . .
One thing I don't have to worry about--at last, I won't be the weirdest one on the street! I cannot possibly be the most oddly dressed person in all of NYC. So I can stop feeling self-conscious. We do, however, have to get Hubby some non-nerd clothes in case restaurants have dress codes.
QUESTION 2: Where would YOU go? I Need Souvenirs. Moderately priced, things that you can't get other places, stuff for youngsters and oldsters. . . .
Then early on Sunday we board the return Lake Shore Express. A shorter layover in Chicago that time, and we may just stay in the Amtrak lounge in their station. Then back to Dallas on Texas Eagle, to arrive on Dec. 9th. Whew!! That's a long time!
I'm eager to hear any suggestions you have about travel. Or about where to go on Canal Street/downtown Chicago when you have a few hours. Or about what to do in NYC.
I'm trying to pack ONLY ten pieces (pants, jackets, tops, one skirt, one dress) of fancy stuff for NYC in the checked luggage and then ONLY a couple of changes of clothes in the carry-ons (for the train and for when we get off in Chicago, so they have to be warm layers.) The contest people mailed me a sweatshirt that we're supposed to wear during the contest and at any time we're photographed or interviewed by the media. Problem is--it's a little tight on the Rack of Doom, and it's YELLOW, the most unflattering color ever! I already had two suits from Macy's/Neiman's* all coordinated: a wool swing jacket in red, and a more structured capelet thing in black/white, each accessorized. If I'm to be on "Today," I'll be hanged if I don't wear my Neiman's jacket and flamingo-pink pashmina!! I cannot have my fifteen minutes of fame wearing a faded-yellow logo sweatshirt that makes me look like Moms Mabley! *pout*
* (Using credit cards to help the economy, of course. I did my part!!)
It goes without sayin' that I already have my tiara made. (Wal-Mart, rhinestones, but from the Rhine river after all.)
Any suggestions? I have never been anywhere except the Southwest, California, all over Texas, to Louisiana and Oklahoma for short excursions. (Except for a Washington, D. C/ Tennessee trip as a child, but that was when I was five.) I know it'll be cold. Mama is so worried that I'll be robbed and mugged, but I told her, "Look, Giuliani cleaned the place up. We're going to Woody Allen's New York, not the West Side Story New York." Still, it is worrisome, but we will be with a group most of the time, and will be doing excursions during the day.
Anyhow--sorry for the long SQUEEE post, but because I've spent most of the past two years taking care of everyone's health probs and trying to write a book that would sell, I don't have anyone else to tell and it's just bursting out. *wry grin* The girlfriends I used to have IRL were calling regularly up until a few months ago--well, except for the two who moved away and forgot Dallas, and the one who had twins and now doesn't have time for ANYthing else (which I understand!)--but they got turned down every time for excursions because of all my other responsibilities (and because Mama was terrified for me to leave the house without her, and often she couldn't go along because of her bad asthma and other stuff.) So they finally stopped calling, and I'm majorly disconnected. I only talk to doctors, Mama's friends/contacts, my aunts, one neighbor, Dennis, and myself these days. And YOU! If it weren't for the friends I have on the 'net, there'd be nobody! *sob* But this isn't supposed to be a poor-me tale, so I'll shut up about it. This is a great chance, and I hope it does work out.
Any suggestions in general for travel are welcome. Don't y'all travel? Anyone? Bueller?
"Let's go. I want to watch that early worm get the bird."--some screwball comedy from the thirties that I half-overheard from TV while strolling hospital corridors
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no subject
Date: 2008-11-21 11:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-11-21 11:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-11-22 02:59 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-11-22 09:56 pm (UTC)As a general rule, NYC is fairly safe these days. If you don't go into dark alleys at night, and be careful of your wallet in crowds, you're probably okay.
One thing I recommend to everyone is to take the Staten Island Ferry roundtrip. It's inexpensive and you get a great view of the Statue of Liberty. You will want to dress warmly if you want to ride outside, but you can still see the Lady from inside the cabin. (It's been cold here recently; tonight we are headed into the low double-digits or high single-digits, Fahrenheit. That'd still be on the cold side for our usual Decembers, but not at all unexpected. Thermal underwear is a definite plus.)
The walk through Central Park you describe covers a fair amount of ground. Here is an online mapping tool for the Park (and links to other maps). Strawberry Fields is at the west end of the park, at 72nd Street; the Carousel and Zoo are both on or toward the east side (the Carousel is further south). Note that the Carousel's only got weekend hours at this time of year.
My all-time favorite place in NYC is the American Museum of Natural History. Then again, it takes a full day to properly see the museum (as with all the good ones). Across Central Park is Museum Row, with the biggie at 82nd Street. Another, less well-known place that I enjoy is the Pierpont Morgan Library at Madison Ave. and 36th St. And, for you, specifically, you might like to take a gander at the Algonquin Hotel, home to the Round Table.
I haven't been to Canal Street in years; sorry I can't recommend any specific places there. What sort of souvenirs do you consider "unusual"?
no subject
Date: 2008-11-24 12:55 pm (UTC)(Since I didn't know the trip dates, I was hoping your radio silence meant you were already in NYC. I'm so glad you're getting to go!)