time

Classes started up again last week and life as i know it has flown out the window. If I hear one more 'teacher' say, "if you think this is bad, remember to tell yourself this is a vacation. Wait until next semester."

We all know next semester (February-June) is going to be awful.

But right now, we all feel that THIS semester is awful. I came home sick from stress on the first day (another classmate broke out in a rash).

Since the next week will be filled learning about the giving bed-baths, changing bed pans, and taking vitals, I figured I'd quickly mention the new years trip to NY.

It was fun.

I ate. a lot.

The Rockettes? WERE TERRIFIC! I want to see them again next year (but before Xmas), as well as NYC Ballet of The Nutcracker.

Dinner at this tiny (and packed) Italian restaurant on the UWS was excellent (straight up Italian...even the TOURISTS sitting next to us were Italian). The tiramissu? to die for. No, really. I NEVER order tiramissu because I've never seen the big deal, but something told me I HAD to get it. I didn't even look at the dessert menu...we just ordered two cappaccinos & one tirramissu to share, and oh my goodness.

It's worth a train ticket to the restaurant JUST FOR THAT DESSERT.

I'm still having dreams about that dessert.

Oh, and the run you ask? how was that?

Only the best way to celebrate New Years (unless at friend Cassidy's party with friends...then it's the second best).

seriously, we had so much fun...from getting off the subway and following the 'cast' of Alice in Wonderland to the party, to crossing the finish line, it was GREAT. We ran the entire 4 mi at a snail's pace, but hey, we ran the entire thing AND we weren't ready for it. AND from mile 2 to mile 3 it was uphill. I LOVED getting high fives from the people on the 'sidelines' watching us. Getting nearly run over by a blind Homer S=impson was fun, too.

46:something wasn't so bad considering we also ate a greasy pizza for dinner....(that was good, too...not as good as the tiramissu though).

Heading to dinner....on new years eve...

self potrait. Dressed for the midnight run...

We're Heading to Brooklyn!!!

In case you forgot...

My last vacation before hopefully graduating
+
The husband getting guaranteed leave for New Years
=
New Years in New York!

No...not exactly Manhattan NY. We're too poor for that, but we scored a decent rate at a hotel in Brooklyn. (my father's reaction: You're staying in BROOKLYN?!)

I'm super psyched.

Here's my to do list:

1. Skate at Rockefeller Center (yes, ridiculously overpriced, but honestly, when I will I do that again?)

2. Possibly stand in the crowd of the Today Show like an idiot. Only because I want to ice skate FIRST THING in the morning because I hate waiting in line. I'm thinking of holding up a sign that says, "Hey camera man, FREEZE on ME!" (stolen from college roommate who wore a cow costume to the Today plaza with a sign saying, "Hey Camera man...Mooooove on over to me!" I don't think it was Halloween either).

3. The Rockettes! We have our tickets and we're going on the last day of the performance. Yet another reason to start those new years resolutions now: great legs.

4. Brooklyn Museum of Art

5. MOMA if I can convince the husband.

6. Brooklyn Botanical Garden would be nice if it wasn't winter.

7. Visit a church to give my thanks to St. Joseph (he helped sell our house). Yes, I'm superstitious. No, I'm not religious. Yes, there's a difference.

8. Walk 5th Ave to see the window displays. Secret: When I was in middle/high school I wanted to be a window dresser. This dream was crushed when I realized that retailers all used the same window design that was mailed to each store. Also crushed when Lincoln Rd on Miami Beach went from trendy & gay mom-and pop pedestrian mall to trendy & gay chain pedestrian mall.

9. Eat at Arties: 1 potato pancake, 1 pastrami sandwich on rye, and rugelach. Lots of rugelach.

10. Burn off above meal by running in the NYRR Central Park midnight run. I will do it. I will pay to run 4 miles in the bitter cold. At midnight. (my mother says: "Oh, that's great. you're staying in BROOKLYN, you wanted to walk 125th street, now you're going to run in Central Park at midnight and get mugged?!")

could I be any more excited?!!!!

Decisions Decisions...

I just came across this article about New Years at Times Square in NYC.

In case you didn't know: We're spending new year's in NYC!

well, more like we're spending New Years in Brooklyn, but you know, it's just a train ride away (manhattan prices were astronomical).

It's the last vacation Ryan and I can take together before I finish school (fingers crossed), and since he 'won' the New Years holiday, we figured we might as well go to the city (in hindsight, I'm thinking a trip to the Caribbean would have been better...but then again, me in a bathing suit right now...it's a toss up)

Part of me WANTS to be a part of the festivities in Times Square...I was going to don some fake eyelashes & a fun hat that I found a few weeks ago at the mall. It's one of those, "I'd love to tell my grandkids about it in 50 years" (I'm not even thinking of having children in the near future-where are these grandkids coming from?!)

But I don't know about the pig herding....and the more important peeing & weather part.....pig herding, incredibly memories...

OR, there's THIS

I'm up for it. Sure it's 4 mi. Sure I haven't ran 4 mi since spring, but it's a fun run, not a race.

And I can still wear some fake eyelashes and a fun hat. And what better way to start new years resolutions?

My mother says to just stay at the hotel and watch the ball drop on TV. I say you don't go to NYC during New Years to spend New Years in the hotel room.

Ryan says, "I haven't ran in a while. There's no way I'm running." I say it's a FUN RUN.

What do you think? Frances, Traci...I'm looking for answers.....