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 :)
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Monday, February 25, 2013
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... :)
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... :)
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
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.
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.
Friday, February 15, 2013
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:
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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:
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
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! :)
-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! :)
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