It's been a while,

And since I last posted, I am back in the Midwest, graduated, pinned, and officially an OT. I realize that I haven't really wrapped up my time in NYC, so I will attempt to do so.

My last few weeks were a whirlwind. I finished up FW and gave my presentation. I missed it immediately and I still do! K came into town on Thursday and of course that night, we all went out to Croxley's. It's not a Thursday night in NYC without a visit to the beer/wing establishment! On my final day at FW (Friday), the staff ordered pizza for lunch and the kids signed a card for me.

While K was in town the next few days, we hit all 5 boroughs. The Bronx and Staten Island were pretty short lived, but I couldn't live in NY for 3 months without visiting all 5! In the Bronx we took the train to Yankee Stadium on Sunday. Though not a Yankee fan, I definitely appreciated the sight and history. It was cool to take the subway past the stadium, as that is one of the places where the subway is above ground. It's a bit like flying over the stadium :) We then took the train to Grand Central (pretty sweet to train into the station) and walked through Manhattan to Central Park where we met L at the Starbucks at Columbus Circle and proceeded to explore the park. We (unknowingly) walked through Strawberry Fields and happened upon Belvedere Castle. Quite the sight!

We also were able to take the Staten Island ferry, where K and I were asked to clarify: "Are you friends, or are you FRIENDS" to the island and took a very brief walk around before heading back and exploring Manhattan on Saturday. Since Hurricane Sandy shut down Liberty Island, the closest we could get to the Statue of Liberty was on the ferry. It was such a great view! Lunch at a cute little Italian restaurant in Little Italy. Church nearby. And then happened upon a little craft fair where I had to purchase some Brooklyn Bridge art.

During K's stay we also ate at Julianna's (Brooklyn pizza), walked the Brooklyn Bridge after dark, hit Brooklyn Brewery and Williamsburg, were asked to leave a bar (due to the owner shutting it down after a very public argument with one of bartenders working there), solved some electrical issues on Passover holiday, had our picture taken with "the bull", strolled through Chelsea and Hell's Kitchen via the High Line in the rain, and saw the Manolo Blahnik store (though it was closed, so no trying on!). We also went to Jimmy Fallon where we almost literally ran into Florida Georgia Line at the Rockefeller. We were then able to watch their interview as it was filmed. Pretty sweet. Then, while waiting in line to enter the Jimmy Fallon studio, we were asked if we wanted to be part of the group of audience members who were on stage during the musical performance. Would we???? ABSOLUTELY! Unfortunately, we were in the back of the group, so we weren't able to see a lot or be noticeable on TV, but what a cool and unexpected experience. I couldn't believe that we were able to walk across the stage and be so close to the action!

Return

Only about 2.5 more weeks until I step foot on MN soil again! (And with that statement, I guess the countdown has begun!) It still seems like I have so much to do, which is probably the case. Last week was my first full of week of independent treating. I saw about 7 kids per day, wrote all notes, and developed all treatment plans. It's going well, and I am really enjoying my work. I was thinking on one of my walks home last week that it truly is amazing how things really line up in a great way. This Friday I give my lunch-and-learn presentation about sensory vs. behavior philosophies around treating kids with autism. I am sure it will spur a great debate...that topic usually does!

Coming back to MSP has been on my mind a lot lately, so to enhance my excitement/calm my nerves I've been listening to a good deal of Motion City Soundtrack and Down and Above while apartment hunting and looking at the newest Adam Turman prints :)

This last week included:
-Dinner party at the apartment - Wednesday
-Farewell dinner for C at Croxley's (so glad they still had the Pumpkin beer!!) - Thursday
-A couple trips to Mood - Thursday and Saturday
-Oz movie with L in Bay Ridge - Friday
-Brooklyn Bridge run with L (we didn't see anyone from PPTC! :( )- Saturday
-Lunch at Grand Central - Saturday
-100 Year Celebration exhibit and Grand Central (not as good as the transit museum) - Saturday
-The Met (Impressionism, Fashion, and Modernity and Matisse exhibits with a bit a newer American i.e. O'Keeffe) - Saturday
-Some fabulous brick oven pizza at Miro in SOHO - Saturday

The Met is gargantuan. I have never seen anything like it. I really only saw 2 exhibits when I was there and didn't even scratch the surface. I couldn't decide if I was completely overwhelmed or in total awe. The special exhibits alone were 5 rooms a piece. Listening to people talk about art was quite the entertainment, too. It's been a while since I've been in the "art crowd"; and now I remember why I didn't exactly fit in! The Fashion exhibit was amazing. So much more than I expected. Here's a little write-up about the exhibit from the Met's website (http://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2013/impressionism-fashion-modernity/introduction):

This stunning survey, anchored by many of the most celebrated works of the Impressionist era, illustrates the extent to which artists responded to the dictates of fashion between the 1860s, when admiring critics dubbed Monet's portrait of his future wife "The Green Dress," and the mid-1880s, when Degas capped off his famous series of milliners and Seurat pinpointed the vogue for the emphatic bustle.

Highlights of the exhibition include Monet's Luncheon on the Grass (1865–66) and Women in the Garden (1866), Bazille's Family Reunion (1867), Bartholomé's In the Conservatory (circa 1881, paired with the sitter's dress), and fifteen other key loans from the Musée d'Orsay; Monet's Camille (1866) from the Kunsthalle, Bremen, Renoir's Lise (Woman with Umbrella) (1867) from the Museum Folkwang, Essen, and Manet's La Parisienne (circa 1875) from the Nationalmuseum, Stockholm, which have never before traveled to the United States; Caillebotte's Paris Street; Rainy Day (1877) and Degas's The Millinery Shop (circa 1882–86) from the Art Institute of Chicago; Renoir's The Loge (1874) from The Courtauld Gallery, London; and Cassatt's In the Loge (1878) from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Alongside both masculine and feminine costumes, a full complement of period photographs and illustrations serve to vivify the ongoing dialogue between fashion and art, and afford a sense of the late nineteenth-century Parisian milieu that inspired, provoked, and nurtured the talents—and often the ambitions—of the painters of modern life.

This weekend I get to check off my 6th state by racing a 5k in Rutherford, NJ! Due to my chip not registering at the start line, my official time for the Central Park Half is my gun time: 2:02:30. Still a PR!

Big Apple to Minne-appol(is)

Is it strange that I am more nervous to move back to MN than I was to move out to NY?

I've been apartment hunting these last couple of days, and have gotten really nervous about the move back. I'd prefer to just slide right back into life in MN, but I'm not sure that is possible. Life has obviously continued on without me there, so a part of me has a bit of fear that what is supposed to be familiar and comfortable won't be. (What if I have forgotten how to ride my bike?! What if my favorite running routes are too far away?, etc. Quite ridiculous problems, I realize, but concerns nonetheless). I am extremely excited, however, to pay much less in rent and not have to buy things (including pipe cleaners and tissue paper) by the pound.

Tomorrow concludes my eighth week of FW, only a month in NY left. Crazy. Where did the time go? I'm starting to have pretty full days of treatments, aside from absences. A part of me thinks that I will leave here with more questions than I came in with! I've learned so much so far. I'm now trying to put my own spin on treatments, but I'm beginning to feel not so unique. But then, do I need to be? Why reinvent the wheel if the goals are being accomplished?

I'm looking forward to the weekend; I'm pretty sure it will be full of touristy things :)

Central Park Half

Today was the inaugural Central Park Marathon and Half Marathon. I decided to run the half after running the Brrrrooklyn Hot Chocolate run in February. NYC Runs put on a great run in February and I was convinced that I needed to do another one of their races.

The weather couldn't have been more perfect, for February at least! Around 37 degrees to start and 44 degrees by the end. The sun didn't come up until after the race, but that was OK. It had rained all day Saturday, so I was a little nervous that it was going to continue to pour on Sunday, but it was all good! No rain and no ice! The half was contained to Central Park and included the Harlem Hills (unlike the full, which did not). Along the run, I decided that I had to move Central Park up the list on my Favorite Spots in NYC list. I think it edged out Brooklyn Bridge and Times Square, but I'm not sure if it has surpassed Grand Central Station. L was able to come out and support me at the finish, which was fabulous. The post-race meal (literally) also did not disappoint with the same spread as the Hot Chocolate run. PLUS I finally got one of those tin-foil blanket things (I've always wanted one of those! I've now arrived in the running world :) ) and they gave out sweet hats (which actually cover my ears!) at the end in addition to the fantastic medals. All of this for $60. NYC sure knows how to host a race. Here are some photos:



And this was some inspiration from packet pick-up on Friday: a jersey signed by Meb with "Run to win":



I've been telling myself that after each long training spurt that "this will be my last long race for a while". Well, clearly, I define "a while" as a pretty short period of time, because at the start of each of these "last" races, I get more inspired to do more. I'm hoping to check off at least one more state on my 50 races in 50 states goal. Maybe NJ in a couple weeks?

On Saturday I went to the Transit Museum in Brooklyn Heights. I love the subway. I think it is absolutely fascinating. Maybe growing up without extensive public transportation fuels my interest in the subject, but nonetheless, I cannot learn enough about the subway and public transportation in NY. If you have a similarly strange interest in this subject matter, I highly recommend the museum, which is located at an old subway station, so it is under ground. At times the exhibits were geared more toward kids, but the history of the subway creation and growth and its influence on culture and life in the city was really well done and fascinating.

This is the start of my eighth week of FW. I can't believe how quickly this time has gone, and I am sure my remaining weeks here will fly by. March by the end of this week??! Crazy! I should probably start to look into where I will be living come end of March/early April... :)

L's Visit Recap

L was in town these last few days and it was so great to see her in NY! I had off Monday and Tuesday for President's Day/Midterm Break, so we were really able to explore the city.

L got into town on Friday night and L and I met her in Queens at Neptune Restaurant. It was a fun place which was unknowingly in my book of NY things to do, until today! After burgers, we took the N home.

On Saturday, L and I went to Williamsburg to take a tour of the Brooklyn Brewery. Everyone else in the city seemed to have the same idea, because we needed to wait in line for a good 40 minutes. It was well worth the wait, however. We planned on going to the 4:00 tour, but with the line, we didn't get inside until about 4:30-ish. We got our chips for beer and proceeded to taste test. We tried: There Will Be Black, Sorachi Ace, Winter Ale, Radius, and Dry Irish Stout. The tour turned out to be more of a standing history lesson about the brewery and brewing in Brooklyn due to some construction, but it was a great time regardless of seeing a small portion of the building. That evening, we met L at Song restaurant in Park Slope and had some fabulous Thai food before heading into the city and visiting Phoenix, Benny's Burritos, and McKenna's.

Photos from the brewery:



On Sunday, after an omelet breakfast at home, L and I headed into the city to watch the Chinese New Year parade and see if we could get Broadway tickets. The parade was packed, and we couldn't see a whole lot, so after about half an hour we decided to leave. It was quite different than what I pictured. I thought there would be lions and dragons travelling down the streets of Chinatown and various dancers and revelers about. The scene was very controlled, however, as traffic was allowed on the streets crossing the parade route. So, a few floats would go by, then there would be a long pause so traffic could go through, and then a couple more would go by. Even though we didn't stay long, it was fun to celebrate the year of the snake!
We went to the TKTS stand in Times Square and braved the wind, cold, and crowds (OK, it was a lot warmer than the weather in MN, I'm sure!) and purchased our tickets to the 7:30 p.m. Avenue Q show. We immediately took the train back home to get ready and eat dinner. The show was great! I was a little wary of seeing a show with puppets, but since there were also humans, it turned out there was nothing to worry about :) After the show, we stopped by Social Calendar for some wine with Seamus.

Parade photos:



On Monday, L and I strolled down to my favorite Italian bakery in Borough Park. She had a cannoli and I had a black and white cookie. Both were absolutely delicious! We took the train into the city from there, did some shopping, played the Big Piano at FAO Schwarz, visited the Trump Tower, and saw the sights of Midtown. L met us for dinner at The Triple Crown Restaurant and we proceeded to Boxers. When the sporting events changed to RuPaul's Drag Race on TV, we figured it was time to head to Chelsea for a comedy show we had reservations for. The Upright Citizens Brigade show featured about 5 stand-up comedians, some better than others, but altogether a good show. How can you find too much fault in a free event?

We saw L off at around 12:30 today (Tuesday). It was such a great time! Unfortunately, we all had a touch of sickness at some point in the last week. I am not one to be all into washing hands and using anti-bacterial gels, but after living in this city, I might be changing my stance on these things. With not too many sicks days and the flu and various viruses running crazy through the school, I am now becoming a pretty big fan of hand hygiene.

Fashion Week!

Fashion Week has come to a close yesterday and I am so glad I got to be a tiny part of it! Dream come true! :)
L's friend, M, was in town last week and due to the snowstorm of the century (which turned out to be just a few inches in New York) her flight was delayed from Friday to Sunday. So, naturally, we celebrated by going to the city and having a few drinks :)
Here is the morning of the storm:



Our drinks before braving the weather:



Manhattan in the snow! :





M and I went to the Museum of Natural History on Saturday. It was great to see. Afterwards, I had the "brilliant" idea to take a nice stroll through Central Park as the snow made it a Winter Wonderland. We were soon clinging for dear life as we slid down the sheets of ice that blanketed Central Park. We saw quite a few wipe outs, and I wasn't sure if we were going to make it out without an injury, but we got lucky! M agreed to accompany me to Lincoln Center to see what we could see of Fashion Week. If you have seen the Sex and the City episode about NY Fashion Week in the winter, it is exactly as they describe in real life. People schlep through the slush and snow in their heels and furs en route to the shows. I have never seen so much fur in this city as I have during this past week.



Sunday saw M's departure and a 10+ mile run, the last long run before my half marathon in a little over a week!

As I left work on Monday, I got a text from L letting me know that one of his friends invited me to a Fashion Week event he had been working on. I literally ran home while Googling appropriate attire to wear to Fashion Week events. Turns out I didn't have any of the online suggestions, so I had to use my best judgement. Skinny jeans, silky teal cowl blouse, and booties it was. Needless to say, I felt a bit out of place when I showed up with my red Columbia jacket and not a huge fur coat. But, whatever. I was never going to see these people again! It was a nice, intimate event at an art gallery called Underline in the Meatpacking District. I drank some wine, took some photos, and looked at some fashion. The show was ready to wear and lingerie, though the focus was really lingerie. I felt a little strange taking pictures of ladies in their undergarments, but quickly pushed that discomfort aside when I realized this may be the only event of this nature I get to attend. It needed to be documented! Here are some photos from the Alisha Trimble event:

First Visitors!

My parents came to visit this past weekend, and I am so proud of them! (My mom even asked for a "I survived NY" t-shirt instead of the traditional "I (heart) NY" design.) It was a whirlwind of a trip, but here it is in a nutshell:
-They arrived on Thursday evening and immediately consumed a Brooklyn lager upon their arrival
-We braved the subway and headed to DUMBO for Grimaldi's pizza (Delicious!)
-While at work on Friday, my parents explored the bakeries of Park Slope and brought some carbs back to the apartment, for which I am grateful
-Friday evening we explored Sunset Park and the Polish market down the street
-Friday night we ate in and sampled the "Common Sausage" we got at the market
-I've entitled Saturday as "Manhattan in a day": Brooklyn Bridge, Statue of Liberty from the Bridge and Battery Park, Financial District and Lower Manhattan (the damage from Sandy was still visible here. It was remarkable to see all of the stores and restaurants closed. It was almost like a ghost town, and I could only imagine that this area of the city is normally a bustling place), the 9/11 Memorial (which was quite the exercise in patience and security. Mom was accused of having a knife in her backpack, but upon a second scan, no such thing was seen), the Cage (which sadly only had one 2-on-2 game going on), lunch at Waverly Restaurant in Greenwich Village, and a whole lot of Midtown (Empire State building, Chrysler building, Grand Central Station, Grand Central Market--fabulous cake for only $1.99!, Central Park, church at 5:30 p.m. at St. Patrick's Cathedral, Times Square, dinner at Tad's, and back to Times Square for the full effect on a full stomach)
-Sunday we had a great breakfast in and my parents departed for OH around 11:30 a.m.

It was so nice to see them out here and it means so much that they made the trip. They were the first of many visitors we will soon have. I wish the time wouldn't have gone so fast, but that just means they will need to come back! :)

Race Day!

Yesterday was my first race in NY and until after the race I thought it would be the only race I'd do in NY. Fortunately or unfortunately, I was re-inspired at the Brrrrooklyn Hot Chocolate 10k at Prospect Park and went home and signed up for the Central Park Half Marathon in 4 weeks. Obviously, racing makes me a little crazy! :)

The weather yesterday definitely lived up to the name of the race. It has been pretty warm here as of late (until last week), but the fresh snow fall on Friday made for a fun winter race on Saturday morning. It was about 18 degrees at 8:00 a.m. when the race began. I wasn't planning to PR, but with a mile left, there was a slight possibility that I could. So, I got on my horse and tried to pump out a record-breaking 1.2 miles. I missed the PR by a couple minutes, but recorded my second best 10k time. Here are some photos from race day:

On the subway to the race.

Before the start of the race.

The biggest difference between Midwest races and NY races is the post-race fuel. No salted nut rolls or donut holes here! This race came complete with whole bagels, whole apples, strawberries, and the best hot chocolate I have ever tasted!

After the completion of this race, I have done races in 5 different states!

Last Thursday I attended my first professional workshop. It was put on by the DOE and the topic was integrating therapy into the classroom. I found it to be very helpful for someone like me who is new to OT in the school system.

Next week I will have two more students on my caseload, bringing the total to 5. I feel like I am beginning to really get a handle of my position and that I am starting to ask the right questions to find the answers I need to deliver good care. (But, it is very possible that in a couple of weeks I will say, "I had no idea what I was thinking two weeks ago!)

MLK Day

I had off today due to the holiday, so I decided to spend it by fulfilling a long-time goal: seeing Good Morning America!! (Random, I know). After only about 2.5 hours of sleep (L and I celebrated MLK Day in the East Village. Note to self and others: Bars entitled "The Library" are officially off limits) I made my way to 44th and Broadway at Times Square. The weather was probably the coldest it has been since I have been here, so there were not many people outside. I arrived shortly after 7:00 a.m. and one definitely does not need to get there any sooner. Most of the news was about the inauguration happening later this morning, so there were quite a few D.C. segments and fewer NYC segments than I think is usual.

http://www.hulu.com/watch/447782#i1,p0,d1

This is one of the segments from today's episode, and I even made the cut!

Here are some photos from the day:

I was also able to do some shopping and exploring on my day off, hitting Times Square in the day, the Chelsea Market, the Meatpacking District, and the High Line:

View from the High Line in the Meatpacking District.

DVF Store!

On the High Line.

On the High Line.

I have learned quickly to stop into any shop, restaurant, deli, attraction, etc. the first time I go past, otherwise I'm never going to find it again. I think it is truly impossible to take the same route twice in this city!

Week One

My first week at FW has come to an end. Only 11 more to go! :)

The first few days were mainly orientation and observation. Two classes do yoga each morning to help with establishing routines and focus and prepare them to learn. It's a really cool concept and I have been told that since the beginning of the year, there has been marked improvement. My supervisors have so much experience and I have already learned so much. At times it's a bit intimidating because I want to do things right and step up, but I also don't want to delete any progress that has already been made so far this year.

On Friday I had my first client! I developed and conducted the entire treatment session. It was quite the experience! I wasn't too concerned about it until Friday morning when my supervisor said she thought this particular student was a bit tough for my first one, but we'd see what would happen! Afterwards, she told me the session went well, as well as it could. There were improvements that we talked about, but in general the feedback was positive. I didn't feel it went as well as what I envisioned in my head (and maybe it never does!), but we all survived.

Another highlight: one of the boys we work said the following after I had met him about 60 seconds prior: "You're pretty...but you'd look even NICER without your glasses" and he proceeded to push my glasses to the top of my head. After doing so, he gave a nod of approval and continued with the game he was playing. Luckily, the girl he was playing with (who wore glasses as well) stood up for me. She told him, "She needs those to see!" It's going to be a fun 3 months! :)

I've gotten to explore my neighborhood a bit more, as I have been walking to FW. The weather has been uncharacteristically warm, and I am just under 3 miles away, so it works out well. There are so many little shops, markets, and bakeries! I'm going to spend so much money on all of this great food!! On Thursday one of L's friends stopped by for dinner, so I picked up some tiramisu from the Italian bakery down the street. What an excellent choice! This place is certainly legit.

L and I also went to a great restaurant, Verde on Smith, for a fabulous late night happy hour on Friday. How can you deny $3 beers?!

I also started running with the Prospect Park Track Club and I run with them on Saturday mornings. What a great group of people! I'm starting to focus on this year's race season, which will start on the 24th with a 10k at Prospect Park. Hopefully the hill workouts on the Brooklyn Bridge will be beneficial!

2013!

Well, I wasn't going to do it, but L talked me into NYE in Times Square and I'm so glad I did it! Once in a lifetime experience because one should probably not spend an entire work day standing in Times Square :)

Luckily, we found out that if you get to the Square in the early to mid afternoon, you should be good. So, we headed to Times Square around 1:00 via the D train. Upon arrival, we were quickly greeted by a mob of cops ready to take their posts. It was quite the scene. We grabbed a bite (pretzel) from a vendor, made a last bathroom stop of 2012, and proceeded to find our way into the Square.

Revelers, as we/they are called, are directed to gather in 7th Ave. But, you need to go through two security check points before entering 7th Ave. This took longer and was more complicated than expected. There were tons of people trying to figure out where to go, but no one knew anything about where to go. It was surprisingly not chaotic, but completely disorganized. In the 100+ years this thing has been going on, one would think there would be some kind of process or plan. Not the case. When we'd approach one barricade, we would need to wait to get to the front of the line, only to be informed that we were not the right people for that barricade (i.e. not wounded veterans, not staying at the Marriott, etc.) [Side bar: You would think, in a city of a ga-billion people, someone would know something, but in the short time that I've been here, that too is not the case. I'm beginning to think that because there are so many people and the space is so expansive, there's just too much to know. End side bar.]

Due to our affiliation with a local music venue, we were able to pass the 8th Ave. barricade. We were quickly rejected at one entrance point (I think due to a full quadrant. The Square is filled in quadrants. Once one quadrant is filled, it is barricaded off and no one can enter that section of the Square after that). After navigating through the Marriott and taking in some Broadway theatres, we took a stop at a near-by Starbucks. We then saw a line forming on 45th St. and it was filling in fast, so out of Starbucks we went and staked our claim in that line:

People were slowly being allowed to enter the Square, so we passed the time by chatting with our neighbors and fellow revelers. One intelligent man brought small folding chairs. (Jealsy). One family had waited 3 hours at another Square entrance only to get to the front of the line and be turned away. I hoped that they were able to enter after all of that!

I was surprised to see how many families there were, especially ones with small children and strollers. I was also surprised to hear more non-English than English conversations. This is truly a global event! I was thirdly surprised to learn that this was everyone's who we talked to first Times Square NYE experience. I have a feeling that many people don't go back for round two!

We made it onto the Square and were wanded and patted down before taking our place among the other million+ folks around us:

We got great spots, as we were between 400 and 800 meters from 1 Times Square, the building from which the ball drops. We arrived at those spots around 4:30 and settled in. We were so lucky that the weather was great. It stayed right around 38 degrees the whole night. It helped that I was wearing 1 thin spandex long sleeve, 1 fleece-lined long sleeve, 1 fleece-lined hoodie, 1 U of MN sweatshirt (from Laura!), 2 pairs of Smart wool socks, 1 pair of fleece-lined spandex pants, jeans, Ledger muffler, scarf, my favorite MN hat, and mittens. I'd definitely suggest all of that at the minimum. I don't know how some girls did it with leggings and skirts, but my fuzzy winter hat goes off to them!

The in-person experience is pretty different than what I imagined from what I had gathered on TV in previous years. I had assumed this was going to be one big party, and it was, but it was a pretty quiet party! L and I were able to have a normal conversation sitting in 7th Ave. listening and feeling the rumble of the subway underneath. It also wasn't as packed as I thought it might be. I was able to stand, sit, lie, eat, etc. quite comfortably. Some even found this a prime opportunity to catch up on the news:

Things started to pick up at 6:00 p.m. when the ball was raised and lit:

With each passing hour, we counted down to 2013 in various countries:

That was cool. It was so fun to hear the crowd get louder and louder as the hours got closer to midnight. I think that was my favorite part.

Performers included: Cassadee Pope, Neon Trees, Carly Rae Jepsen, Train, and Taylor Swift:

The last hour flew by. Soon, there were only 5 minutes to go:

And then the count down was on:

And then....2013 was here!!

We had such a great time ringing in the new year! It was so fun to get texts throughout the night and hearing so many interesting stories was amazing. For example, we met one woman whose birthday is January 1 and she had lived in NY for many years but had never attended a NYE in Times Square. She is currently living in Texas and was in NY visiting. She wasn't going to come to Times Square, but decided that because of her birthday, she should. She arrived at 11:30 p.m., showed her ID to the cops to prove it was her birthday and they allowed her in to celebrate and watch the ball drop. She was so ecstatic to be there.

It was a great beginning to what is sure to be a fabulous year! Here's to a happy and healthy New Year!