Advertisement
Published: December 31st 2009
Edit Blog Post
Usually when I sit down to write my blogs, I have a hard time coming up with material.
You see, I would consider my existence in New York a rather tame one.
I work everyday of the week and when things get interesting, these occurrences are usually few and far between.
But since it is the Holiday season and because I haven't logged in for a while, my advice to you the reader is to get comfortable.
November around these parts was pretty quiet. It started off on a spectacular note with Halloween and the Yankees winning their 27th World Series over Philadelphia. A friend of mine from the Australian - Kenny (who we will meet later in greater detail) and I walked half of Manhattan looking for a decent watering hole to take in Game 6. A quaint little German bar in the East Village with a live jazz band and one little TV made for a great spot. After the Yankees clinched the series, I must have high-fived and/or hugged every person that spotted me with my Yankee cap on, during the hike back to the Subway station. (Poor Kenny however did not partake in the hugging orgy,
due to his allegiance to his hometown of Philly. The whole town was in a buzz for days!
November also saw my cousin Brianna scoot through town with her boyfriend James en route to London (see previous blogs for photos).
Thanksgiving was on the quieter side of things with Penny and I resolving to work the holiday.
December started in an excellent fashion as well, with the Christmas party season kicking off in high fashion.
A very low-key affair (by Australian stardards) for Otolaryngology Dept. at the Princeton Club ended at 9pm when I set off into the night looking for alternative means of entertainment. Thankfully, Pete Bruce was out at a birthday party and I got the nod to come help celebrate with a little darts action, a little of ski-ball and a whole lot of shananigans!
Around mid-month, a most awesome friend by the name of Devin Sturdy (he of 'Happy Guy' Fame) flew into town for a week.
I tried to take him out as much as I could, to show him the highlights that I have discovered since I have been living here.
One thing we agreed on, way before he came to town,
was to organize tickets to the Basketball at Madison Square Garden. The game itself looked like it was going to be a whitewash with the crowd booing the local team "The Knicks" for sucking so badly in the first half. The half-time Talent show of three 10-year olds singing and dancing for mass applause was much more entertaining than the main event.
Thankfully, the Knicks either pulled their finger out, or the Clippers felt pity for them and the game went down to the wire, with the Knicks getting up and everyone in the house feeling like they got their money's worth.
About a week later, on a cold Saturday afternoon, the sky opened and boy did it snow! Now, being raised in suburban Melbourne, most people will probably know that I can count the number of times I have seen snow using the fingers on one hand. For the first time, I experienced snow when I wasn't anywhere near a mountain.
That evening, Penny and I were working the door at the 'Australian' and between the two of us and the new manager that arrived ifrom Sydney no more than a week or two beforehand, we were all
acting like 5 year olds making snowballs and kicking around in the midtown snow dump.
Sunday night after I finished work at Bondi Rd, I surprised Penny by telling her to come to the bar for an ensuing adventure. Knowing Penny's love of all things glittering and sparkling, I took her down to the south Brooklyn suburb of Dyker Heights, where residents compete to 'out-do' one another in terms of their Christmas light displays. Having the neighbourhood under the cover of fresh snow, made the trip all-the-more special!
Dave being Dave however, managed to ruin the evening with the announcement just before our major hike back to Manhattan, that he was unable to locate his iPod that Penny had given him for an early Xmas present.
Thinking that it was gone forever, I received a wall post on Facebook the following morning telling me that someone had found my iPod and it was ready to be picked up. HALLELUJAH! It had fallen out of my pocket at the first house we stopped to photograph and layed in the snow all night to be found and returned to it's owner within 24hrs (in working condition) 😊
Subway ticket to
Brooklyn - $2.25
Starbucks on the way from the subway staion to Dyker Heights - $3.50
Losing an iPod in Brooklyn and getting it back - Priceless!
Sub-zero temperatures kept the snow on the ground for a week until it rained and washed it all away. It is quite a sight to see actually (especially in Central Park) to be walking around one day and see nothing but a white layer blanketing the ground, only for it to go back to green a day later!
(As I write, we've had about 2-3 inches of snow today, so everything is back to white again!)
Most of you will also know my love of the t-shirt and shorts outfit for the four seasons back in Melbourne.
I'd just like to say that yes, I am definitely out of my comfort zone here and coats, scarves, gloves, thermal layers, big bloody snow boots etc. etc. are the way forward.
Coldest day we've had so far; -16C!!!!
Sidenote - Here in the States, their are a few things that you just have to roll with. Like writing todays date as 12/31/09, the whole 'tipping' thing and most of the imperial system
(fluid oz, pounds, feet and inches)
The Fahrenheit system is a different kettle of fish however (especially when in a laboratory we all use Celcius)
It's just doesn't make sense and I for one, flat out refuse to adopt it!
With Christmas fast approaching, Penny and I were almost resigned to keep it simple!
That was until Kenny, (from earlier in the blog) invited Penny and myself to spend Christmas with his family in Philadelphia. Nearly chomping at the bit to get out of town for something different and to experience family life once again, we immediately took up Kenny's generous offer.
We caught a bus down to Philly (2hr trip) to get there by 11.30am. The afternoon was spent eating, watching movies, getting to know Kenny's Mom (Peggy), Dad (Ken), brother (Sammy) and sister (Kelly) and playing with the two dogs (Bella and Smalls)
A very entertaining afternoon to say the least with Kenny's first profession being a comedian/actor, with bartending a clear second. It was also clear to see where Kenny got his sense of humour from.
When the clan shuffled off to his Auntie's place round the corner for dinner, Kenny's extended family proceeded to
joke, mock and question the 'new guests'. A very entertaining and funny day had by all.
Regret came to town when we announced that we had to make the trip back to NYC so I could work the next day. (For a pittance mind you) Until next time!!!!!!!
Tonight is NYE and to avoid the crowds of New York I have decided to make myself available to work.
Since I am working all the days of the long weekend and Penny most nights we had a lovely night out at our local Vegan restaurant last night (sorry to those who might take offense but we just can't do it - I cannot wait to go home tonight for a steak and/or hamburger)
After dinner, we headed to Joe's Coffee on 85th to keep us awake for the 2hr 40min marathon that is 'AVATAR'
A technician just floating through the coffee shop at the time, had recently returned from living in Oz and proceeded to tell the barista how to make my 'Flat White' before I even ordered! YUM!!!!!!!!!
Now with AVATAR, I only have three words to say! SEE IT NOW!!!!!
I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas
(Over here you can't really say that - Most people say 'Happy Holidays' to be ofay with all the religions) and may 2010 bring with it good health, increased wealth and happiness to all my friends and family!
Congratulations to the Brauers, on the safe delivery of Phoebe Rose!
luv Dave
P.S. Lotsa photos with this blog - Don't forget to check them all out!!
Advertisement
Tot: 0.146s; Tpl: 0.013s; cc: 10; qc: 91; dbt: 0.1103s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.2mb
kaz
non-member comment
oh man, the snow just does it for those xmas lights! makes the boulevard in ivanhoe look so tacky!! xxkaz