One slight movement for a woman...

 

This picture surprises me with its clarity. I was on the ground near the Statue of Liberty (we couldn't go inside because all the tickets were long gone.) I guess my brother was right when he said, "stop buying cheap cameras." This is how good the closeups can be. Facinating place, everyone should see the Statue of Liberty. (Now I know of a smaller one I have yet to check out. On the river in Paris.)

Lock answer

I just got an answer to the question in April about locks on a foot bridge. According to an anonymous poster on my blog, engaged couples lock a lock on the bridge as a way of demonstrating their engagement. Ofter there initials are on the locks. Isn't that lovely?

Billy Eliot!

 

On Wednesday we saw BILLY ELIOT, the winner of best new show! This was fantastic! The young man who performed the lead that night is an amazing dancer and actor. One great song- Merry Christmas Mrs. Thatcher! My favorite number has Billy and his friend dressing up in girls' clothing and giving a full-out spectacle of a dance number. Even better than the movie.

Empire inspires

After Shrek we went to the Empire State Building. This meant taking my brother on his first New York subway ride. He has heard many bad things about the subway; this means he has NOT been listening to me for the last 10 years! I've said it is clean, safe, cheap and efficient. Because it is. So, after figuring out which way to go (it may be the 'nearest thing to heaven' but there are an awful lot of tall buildings in the way- and I can't see through them.) we decended to the depths, bought our tickets and stepped onto one on New York's nicest subway trains. Little brother was impressed.

We arrived at the ESB (Empire State Building) around 10:30 pm. Last elevator up is midnight. We have time. Fortunately I bought tickets online. Oddly, we do not have a long wait because the place is not busy. That's right; after the shows the ESB is not busy. It is not a simple ride to the top. No. Escalator, walk, elevator, cattle drive, elevator, top. Along this path there are places to take tourist photos (Look, I;m standing next to the ESB and I can touch the top. My brother did so in the pic I took of him. I wasn't thinking and just stood there, I think.)

Once we got outside, into the night air with a great view of the city, my brother was the most impressed I've ever seen him. He took LOTS of pictures! He had two cameras with him. It sounds like a 'typical' thing to visit the ESB, but it really is something to experience. The first time I saw it was during a warm drizzly day in 2002. This was so much better.

I love New York!

Shrek

 

My brother Karl had never been to New York City. I have gone almost every year since 2000. This year my mother allowed Karl to go in her place. This is the trip: a 6am bus trip with two rest stops and a lunch break at Perkin’s Restaurant; 3pm check-in; show at 7pm; next day show at 8pm; day after leave at 11am for home with two rest stops and dinner with shopping in Lewisburg. Most of our time is unplanned.

After unpacking, we joined a friend of his who had taken the trip the year before and explored Times Square and that area. Then back to the hotel for a change of clothes and off to dinner with Mary (the friend) and her husband. Cool little Asian restaurant called ‘The Blue Chili Bowl.’

And then we saw SHREK! This is my brother’s first Broadway show and I must say we were all impressed! Marvelous set! Great performances! Rousing show!

Day 2 and more

(This is Wren. Nanna hasn’t written recently because her secretary has not sat down to write ;) She is insisting that I get out an update. )

Nanna: Day 2
We traveled all day! We left Vicksburg MS in the am and ended up north of Chattenooga, Tennessee. That’s over 500 miles. The picture above is me in my bag. Mommy makes me stay in it when she’s driving. I miss her lap but my bag is cozy and has several soft toys in it.
Day 3
We arrived at Grandma’s house! I love Grandma’s house! It has steps and a deck and more steps up to my room (ok, our room). We have a big bed. Our bathroom (ok, Mommy’s bathroom) is in the basement. That means we trot down two flights of stairs in order to …go.
And so on…
So that was Wednesday and Thursday. We stayed at home mostly the other days. (I know I did. She goes somewhere and I have to stay in the basement or up in our room. )
On Monday one of Uncle Karl’s friends came to the house and cut and colored Mommy’s hair. She really liked it a lot. She said she felt beautiful and no longer hates her hair.
Then on Tuesday morning she left me here at 5 am. I stayed with Grandma for the next three days and missed Mommy like crazy. I was so happy she returned on Thursday. I hope she never leaves me again.
One day, I don’t remember which one but it wasn’t this past Sunday, we (me, Mommy and Grandma) drove to the cemetery where Grandpa is buried. I never met him but Mommy says he would have loved me. Of course he would, I thought. Doesn’t everyone?
Uncle Mark and his family came over on Father’s Day and I was sentenced to the basement while they went out to eat. Are lovely little princesses in black coats not welcome in restaurants? Why? I take baths.
Anyway, Mommy is going to write a bit tomorrow about what she’s been up to. Then I’ll know where she went. She finished a book today. Something about a vampire and a girl in Washington state. :>
Woof! (Hi Joey!)

travel- day one

(This is Wren. We didn't leave until Tuesday because I spent time with friends and didn't get my packing done. Nanna had little to no pain from her shots. She was so antsy this morning before she left- this girl likes to go with me.)




This is Nanna. Trip Day One. Tiny Town Texas to ...

I was so excited this morning! We left on our trip to Pennsylvania! Mommy packed last night while I stretched out on the bed and watched. She packed a whole bag just for me! Once she got everything in the car, she had me get into my bag. I know that bag means I am going on a trip and I have to stay in the bag while Mommy drives.
After almost 400 miles we stopped in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Our hotel is new and they like pets! I met another canine who was not friendly. He barked at me and tried to scare me. His daddy got him away from me. (I think the big guy was a mix with some Pit Bull and something nice, maybe a bloodhound. He didn’t scare me. Much.) Any way, I was on a leash and he wasn’t. I was brave.
Mommy fed me roast beef from Arby’s and chicken from Wendy’s today. I like meat! Tonight I get to sleep in a big bed. Mommy can sleep there, too.
Tomorrow is all travel. Mississippi to Tennessee. I get to sleep a lot.
I miss you Aunt Cara and Mr. Donnie! Tell Sadie I said ‘hello.’