Brett Visit: Day 7

Today is Thanksgiving and Grandma’s birthday. Yet again, we get another late start to our morning. We make a pot of coffee and head down to the parade. We had pretty good seats considering how late we were compared to everyone else. In New York everyone likes to wait seven hours before something starts or opens. The parade was pretty cool. The balloons were huge and really neat. We were at the turn and it was funny watching the people try not to run into the buildings as they turned.

There was a man, who squeezed in about eight inches between myself and the person in front of me. So he budged in and I said, “Oh sorry, I didn’t mean to get in your way.” He didn’t say anything back so I said, “It’s cool man, it’s your world I'm just living in It.” Then he moved.

After the parade we started cooking our feast. It was weird not being at home with all of my family and having everyone else prepare the food. Ashley cooked the side dishes and I cooked the turkey and ham. She did very good for having never cooked anything this big. The food was fantastic. We ate so much. And then took the greatest nap.

After we get up Ashley suggests that we take a bus tour of the city. I thought it sounded okay, and was a little skeptical. I thought it was going to be some guy with a monotoned voice telling us boring stuff about the city that no one cares about. So we agree to go and we cannot find a bus that is topless. We wait around for three or four buses and finally find one that has no roof. We start our tour and the guide seems like a good one. He tells us a lot of cool things about the city. It was really cool to drive through the streets at night with all of the buildings lit up and see how old they really are.

The top of the empire state building was lit up red and orange for Thanksgiving. There were so many sights that I haven’t seen until we rode this bus. We went by some of the parks and through most of Manhattan. Then we crossed the Manhattan Bridge going into Brooklyn. This was really cool. We got such a great view of the city from across the Hudson. It was so cool to see the whole city but be out of all of the chaos. I asked Ashley if it was crazy to look over at such a big city and say, this is where I live. This isn’t a vacation. Through the whole tour I was just in awe with all of the things I was seeing and all of the facts the tour guide was telling us. When we got off of the bus I couldn’t believe that I did not want to go. It was such a great experience and I highly recommend going on one the next time anyone goes to New York. Today was a good Thanksgiving full of awesome food and a fun tour. For not having done anything like this before, Ashley and I did a pretty darn good job making quite a feast. I was proud of her.

Day 81

November 26, 2009

HAPPY THANKSGIVING and HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA! She’s the coolest, older lady you’ll ever meet! Ask any of our friends, they’ll tell you. I must admit, it’s really weird not being home for Thanksgiving. It’s my first year in 25 years of my existence I’m not home. I cook dinner! Yes, I do! I’m not patting myself on the back but gosh darn it, the food was delicious! Check out the spread! I made cornbread stuffing, cheesy garlic mashed potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, and chicken and noodles. (Actually the chicken and noodles came frozen in the mail from home!) Brett cooked the turkey and ham, and we had a feast! We ate so much, but I’m so proud of us! We did so good! Now, I have so many leftovers, I won’t need to go grocery shopping until next Thanksgiving.

 

We do go to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade this morning. We didn’t get a good spot. We woke up a little late. I mean, it was like we stayed up all night the night before, or something. Psh… =)

It was cool to see the balloons, but that’s pretty much all we saw. I wish I was little again to where I could hang out on my dad’s shoulders all morning. I quickly realize that these parents gave up the chance to see the parade, so their kids could see it. Ha! I don’t think so! It took me 18 years to get to the height I am now. My kids can wait just as long to be able to see over the tops of the taller people and those less fortunate in height at a parade! I’ll be the mom who straps her kid into the stroller, parks it and locks it to a bike rack, and shoves her way to the front for some free candy! ;) Lol! I’m just kidding! I won’t strap them to a bike rack, but you bet I’ll be the one fighting for a Snickers bar! I don’t care if you are five years old! ;)

After the parade, cooking, then eating…we crash! We both sleep about three hours. Ahh…it was so nice! When we wake up, we’re trying to decide what to do on Thanksgiving night. We get ready and start walking around Times Square. The City Sights bus tour was in full swing, so we hop on! It’s one of those double-decker buses that take you around the city. The fact that it was night outside was amazing, because we got to see New York at night, during the holiday season when the stores and streets are lined with Christmas lights!

The tour was awesome! We learned a lot of fun facts, like NYC used to have trains that ran above the city streets, instead of below. Cool, huh? My favorite part was going across the Manhattan Bridge into Brooklyn. I really like it there. It’s very quiet and a little more suburbia living. We go to the Fulton Pier and look out over Manhattan. It was insanely beautiful. Brett and I were standing there and he goes, “Is it weird looking over there, knowing that’s where you live?” It was so crazy looking at the crowded and cramped city, realizing that in fact, this is now my home. I feel like I’m still on vacation, or something. But no. This is my home and looking at it from a distance gave me chills. It’s truly incredible to look at a 13-mile strip of island, filled with millions of people, and realizing that you have the opportunity to live there and pursue your dreams and make your life into the fabulous life you’ve always imagined and aspired for yourself.

Note to self: Doing is the best way to learn. When cooking your first Thanksgiving feast, make sure you know what you’re doing and what tools you’re using. Don’t try and use the grapefruit peeler as a knife, or a lettuce knife to cut your sweet potatoes. I promise you, it’s difficult and not worth it! When you have a ghetto can opener that won’t turn, so you have to “cut” the can open with individual slices with the stupid contraption, go buy a new one you cheapo! Pay attention to when you put your mashed sweet potatoes into the oven, so you don’t have sweet potatoes spilling out over your dish onto your stove.  Make sure you have enough cans of green beans for the casserole, so you don’t have to add peas to make it thicker and denser. Things always go wrong, regardless of it’s your first time doing something or not, but hey…how are you supposed to learn if you never do it? Just go for it! Make the mistakes, laugh about it, then move on! Be proud of those mistakes, because at the end of the day, they aren’t mistakes! They’re great tasting food!

Day 57

November 2, 2009

Can you believe it's already November? I can't! It only means one thing...I will soon be 25. Ugh! Horrid, I know! If I can stay 25 forever, I would be okay with that. I do not want to get older!

Besides this fact, today is a great day! I start my new job at The Capital Grille today. It is such a great place to work! The people are amazing--the managers don't talk to you like you're nothing. Unlike my previous job. I already have benefits, we get a free dinner everyday, and the best part...drum roll please...they are closed on Thanksgiving! Whew hew! The one thing I have been worrying about since I started applying for jobs! It's amazing! I can now enjoyably go to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade with my brother and not have to worry about work! ;)

You should really check out their menu. Their food looks amazing, the atmosphere is a professional, yet elegant take on Old Hollywood Glamour, and the friendly staff, I know I will come to grow and love! Who doesn't love free coffee all day? I'm raising my hand, because I know I do! Let's not forget the rather attractive, business men that come strolling through our doors. That's just a bonus! And I've only been there a day! I may need to cool myself off a bit!

I come home, tired from the long day. After talking to my friend, Dyanna, on the phone, I turn to none other than "New Moon." I'm already 3/4 the way done! I can't even believe it. I now want to take up the hobby of reading. It's so different than watching tv. When I watch tv, my mind still wanders in a million different directions. When I read, I'm only focused on what's going on with the book. I love it! What a way to forget about everything!

I'm watching the series! What a great one! I love how the game's go back and forth. Phillies, Yankees, Yankees, now Phillies! I love it! I'm still for the Yankees because I want to see what the city turns into after they win! It's going to be one crazy phenomenon! I want to be a part of it! Baseball is my favorite sport. It's the All-American dream of sports! I was in Chicago when the Sox won the series, and now I'm in NYC where there is a potential for the same thing. I think I'm their secret good luck charm! I should get compensation for this! I would even settle for a date with a player! ;)

Note to self: When you give someone advice, maybe you should listen to yourself and really hear what you're saying. What you tell your friends is often something that pertains to your life. Take your own advice. You are your best critique. And you are ultimately the one who knows you best and knows what is best for you. When you tell your friend, "You deserve someone who doesn't treat you like crap. Don't put up with his crap. He's not worth it. You deserve someone who thinks you're the world!" And she says, "Yeah, he thinks the sun shines out of my ass, already." Haha! Listen to yourself and realize that you're in the same situation, and you should probably listen to yourself more! Hello, sister! You're not an idiot! I know it's easier said than done, but wake up to reality! I know we have all been here! Do you think we will ever really listen to ourselves? =) Probably not. But it's always nice to think that we do, and that we really do try! ;)