Smurfiness, Trains and Automobiles

Oh what a day!  I left NYC on the Bolt Bus and 7 hours later, I'm finally sitting on my couch back home.  It's been a good day of resting - because I needed it for the trip back - although I kept nodding off most of the way home.  There's so much energy in that city.  I love it.  It's like, when you're around your neighborhood, its not so crazy and it all seems pretty normal.  Once you venture out to Times Square, it gets bananas!

1. I lucked out again on my ride back from NYC.  Although the bus was full a skinny guy sat next to me.  When my knee started bothering me and I needed to switch seats, he switched with no complaints.  I love when people are nice.
2. My timing on all of the public transportation that I had to take today was impeccable!  I probably never waited more than 5 minutes for the next bus or train - in some cases the train would show up just when I did.
3. The much needed sleep I got before leaving NYC was awesome!  
4. A homeless man was working his hustle when I went to reload my smart trip card at Union Station.  I needed just another dollar on my card and he shows up with a Metro Ticket that had $1.30 on it and asked me if I'd pay him for it.  We conducted the transaction and I gave him more than what was on the card.   
5. On the way home I picked up a small rack of BBQ Ribs at Giant for only $5!!!  I LOOOOOOOOVE that deal.

New York, New York, You're a Helluva Town

It was 5:30 AM and I was up and at 'em.  Ready to conquer the world - well, NYC anyhow and more specifically, Good Morning America.  There are many things I want to do during my visit here and today I achieved a couple of them.

1. We made it to Times Square to check out Good Morning America. I loved getting to see Lara Spencer and Josh Elliot in person.  We all got some face time on camera too - I loved that!
2. I scored a new t-shirt from the NBC Studios Store for $5!  You can't beat that with a stick!
3. I got to see the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular - all thanks to my friend Colby and a Groupon!  We all had orchestra level seats, too.  Great job! 
4. I required a nap this afternoon and loved that I got one.  It helped me feel a little more refreshed. 
5. We were on a search for a Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf today and found one.  YES, we got that red velvet hot cocoa - DELICIOUS!!!

Big Apple Bonanza of a Day

I'm super excited to be in NYC!  So much so that I've walked a lot of miles already and I've only been in the city since about 2PM.  There was once a time where arriving in NYC made me nervous.  These days I don't even bat an eye.  Stepping out into the Big Apple and taking in everything.

1. To explore NYC with friends is something I love to do.  We visited quite a few places in the short time I've been here (They arrived yesterday). One of those places is Gaga's Workshop at Barney's.
2. I REALLY love the apartment I'm staying in.  It's like the coolest place.  Very cute and modern.  If it were possible, I'd have my place look a lot like this.
3. I loved that Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf were giving out free hot cocoa.  What made me love it more was that the hot cocoa was red velvet flavored! It was by FAR the best hot cocoa I've ever had. NO LIE!
4. Walking through Central Park at night with the road closed off was pretty damn cool.  There's not many times when a person would get to do that.  And probably not many times you'd feel safe doing it either. Luckily the police had everything blocked for the parade!
5. Foursquare is cool when you check-in at new places and you get badges. Tonight I unlocked 3 badges.  What I really loved about the check-in at The Dead Poets bar was that it unlocked a special - one free shot of Wild Turkey!

It's the Little Things in Life

Being under the weather slows you down quite a bit. However, I'm here to make the list!  I vow not to miss a day.

1. Woo Hoo!  I was able to navigate the NYC subway system without a glitch this morning. This is good preparation for my trip during Thanksgiving. 
   
2. I arrived to the Bolt Bus 2 hours early and was able to do standby seating on the first bus out that morning.  It was a little bit nerve wracking but I made it on the bus and even better - I go a row all to myself again!
3. I love Popeye's Chicken (and the onion rings) and I was craving it all the way home on the bus.  I definitely got me some Popeye's!
4. That new show on ABC, Revenge, is pretty good!  It's very reminiscent of the night time soaps of the 80s where something majorly dramatic happens at the end of each episode.  This might be a new guilty pleasure! 
5. I love seeing people I knew as a kid doing their thing. Just reminds me that while where I grew up had it's negatives, these women I went to high school with are definitely a positive. Keisha and Kwaun Music Ministries

Empire State of Mind

They say the city never sleeps but I sure as hell did!  Maybe someone slipped me an Ambien! LOL

1. While in Chelsea, I was by the Apple Store and saw the memorial for Steve Jobs (Apple Co-Founder).  I loved that it was done so organically with Post-it Notes and apples with a bite taken out of them.   
   
2. Had lunch at a great Thai restaurant in Chinatown called Pongsri Thai Restaurant  on 106 Bayard Street. Check it out! Great prices, too!
3. We walked over to the World Trade Center Area.  The new buildings look amazing.  There was a museum/shop there that had some moving displays.
4. I had my first Century 21 experience.  It's a store that has name brand clothing at a discount.  I lucked out and found a nice wool driving hat for only $10!!  Good buy!
5. Walking through a park in Chinatown, we saw how awesome the Asian community is there.  They were all older (50s and up) and sitting at tables playing card games, checkers and other games. They also sat on benches playing music and watching their grandchildren.  It was an awesome sight to see.

Taking a Bite of the Big Apple

Ugh... being sick, SUCKS!  I'm just glad it's not as bad as it could be.  I could be shivering, headache, stomach ache, etc.  Luckily it's just a sore throat and the sniffles for the most part.  I won't let it damper my day!  Now on to my daily 5!

1. I took the Bolt Bus to NYC. It's awesome to be able to sit on the bus that has a power outlet and free internet!  I love that. 
2. Oooh the memories of Tootie, Natalie, Jo, Blair and Mrs. Garrett.  I have been watching The Facts of Life on DVD. Every episode REALLY DID have a life lesson.  At least the early seasons did.  The jokes for today's youth probably wouldn't fly but it's still a great show to me!
3. Tonight as I was waiting on my friend to meet me at Penn Station a guy walked up to me and asked if I were Sinbad, the comedian.  How funny is that??  This is the second time in my life where I've been mistaken for Sinbad. Do I really look like him? It was a cool feeling...
4. I bought a cupcake at a restaurant tonight and the icing was amazing!  Love a good buttercream frosting.
5. There's something to be said about the energy of NYC.  I love the excitement of the city and that there is so much to do.

Do Ya Wanna Have Fun? How's About a Few Laughs?

I've noticed that it's pretty hard to list 5 things for the day when you don't leave the house. hahaha It was one of those days where I just needed to catch up on laundry, create things in the "creative suite" of my home, and watch TV.  Now, let's attempt to come up with a list of 5 great things that I loved about today.

1. Today I was able to print stickers with my new 5 Loves logo on them.  After a few tries I was successful!
2. I'm glad that I was able to finish all of my laundry today. There was a TON of it.
3. The show, Pan Am, is growing on me more and more.  I turned off the last 30 minutes of Sweeney Todd for it for crying out loud! hahaha
4. I booked my Bolt Bus ticket to NYC.  Very exciting and VERY inexpensive. Only $42 for a round trip ticket.
5. You can tell that I'm getting older. I find that I can appreciate many things that came before my time. One of those things is the soundtrack to the musical, Sweet Charity. I really wanted the soundtrack that had Shirley McLaine playing the lead but couldn't find it.  This one has Gwen Verdon in it. I guess she must have been big time back then. hahaha  Lots of familiar songs in this show - the biggest being "Hey Big Spender" and "If My Friends Could See Me Now". To make up for it, I found a YouTube clip from the movie featuring Shirley McLaine!

Honestly!

1. Today I saw this cool booth for Honest Tea.  It's a booth where you pay for the drink on the honor system.  I put in my dollar and took a drink and then I saw a woman reaching for her wallet, getting out a dollar and putting it in the the clear box.  Such a cool concept for humanity.  There still are some honest people out there in the world.  LOVE THIS CONCEPT!
2. This wine tonight sure tastes fine! VIVA LA CHEAP WINE!
3. Yup - it's official.  NYC is on and poppin'. :0)
4. I'm lovin' the new style of bracelet I created tonight. http://www.etsy.com/listing/82704572/paracord-prostate-cancer-awareness
5.  Getting to leave work early and not feel like I had to be there to do "stuff" felt REALLY GOOD. I haven't been home before 6PM in a while.

Song Binging and Crab Caking

1. Walking to Starbucks on campus with two great women in our office was a nice, yet brief, highlight.
2. That taco salad in a bag by Dole - yeah.. that stuff is delicious.  When you add in the buffalo chicken nuggets it becomes scrumdiliumptious!
3. On another food note - I made rémoulade sauce for my crab cakes. It really wasn't that hard to make!  Very tasty and just what the crab cakes needed. 
4. That new song by Kelly Clarkson, "Mr. Know It All" - I have been song-binging on that tune all damn day!  I love it! So much so that you should take a listen now. REALLY COOL SONG ALERT!
5.  I'm excited about an opportunity to possibly go to NYC next week - even if it's just for a day and a half.  I should know in the next day or so if it'll be a reality.