East Side Story: September 2009

Hey Hey Hey,

Well folks, I guess I should start this blog by saying that Libby and I just finished watching the season premier of the Amazing Race - the season on which Libby and I should have been contestants. We anticipated the start of the season to see who in the world could possibly have come between us and being on the show. Within the first minute, we received the answer. The first couple listed was a newlywed couple (although not as newly wed as Libby and I, but I don't want to rant) that more than likely stole our spot. The newlywed couple was an interracial couple featuring a former Miss American winner. Not just contestant - winner. There's just no way for Libby and me to compete with that. So we're not too bummed that we didn't make it...

Libby recently got to meet her favorite author, Philippa Gregory, at a talk/book signing promoting her most recent book "The White Queen". Libby loved it, I endured it. Also, another recent trip to the Upright Citizen's Brigade theatre (or the UCB as we seasoned New Yorkers call it) proves once again that you never know what to expect on any given day in this city. We enjoyed watching a relatively entertaining comedian perform but were takenslightly off guard when he invited two members of "Puppetry of the Penis" onstage to close out the evening. The final ten minutes of the show involved two men wearing nothing but capes demonstrating their "creative flexibility."

In NYC news, this past weekend, my parents came to visit, and we had a blast. We pretty much had about as exciting of a weekend as you could possibly have. There were Broadway plays (yes, plural!), good eating, spectacular views, and using up 2 seconds of our 15 minutes of fame. The night they got in, we stuck around the Times Square area, where my parents were staying. They found a hotel that they could stay at for free (thank you Holiday Inn points!) that had a view of the Times Square Ball. They stayed on the 45th floor, and it was cool to see the city from a little better perspective than street level!

The next day, I arose early to join my parents in the crowd of the Today show. We took up a position in the second row of a fenced off area, behind some people with a poster for Al Roker and the rest of the world to see. Little did we know that the little girl in front of us had a broken elbow, so Al Roker couldn't help but come and interview her and place her on live TV - with us right behind - gawking and grinning like idiots. So if anyone saw that brief interview - my parents and I were there and are desperately searching for the footage. A couple of items of note - I spotted John Krysinski (aka Jim from the Office) gallivanting around the lobby of NBC news, and in person Meredith Viera is kind of scary looking.

My parents were also kind and generous enough to take Libby and I to two (yes, two!) Broadway shows. We sat in the orchestra section for both Shrek the Musical (funny with amazing sets and all around cool) and South Pacific (sing-y with a talented cast and a subtle story). My parents were also generous enough to provide food for Libby and I in return for guidance and showing them the sights (Rockefeller Center, Statue of Liberty, Ground Zero, Central Park, etc.) Libby and I would like to take this chance to publicly thank my parents for their generosity and their willingness to go where we decided to take them.

In other news, I continue to be a stay at home consultant, although a recent hire at my previous place of work has put that status in jeopardy, so stay tuned and I''ll let you know how that turns out. Also, as you may know, Libby received an internship through the Guggenheim Museum. Recently, Libby was ecstatic to learn that with this internship she gets in to any museum in the city of New York -FREE. Sometimes even with a guest. Awesome!!

The true NYC experience for my parents - the Subway

Matt Lauer is actually on 8" tall in real life - true fact.

Hangin' Out in Times Square. Yep, just us and 10,000 other people.

Hooray for Liberty!!

Over the past few weeks Gregg and I have trying to find a balance between not spending a lot of money and taking advantage of living in Manhattan. It's a constant struggle because all of the cool restaurants, theaters, bars, shops cost lots of money that is currently being eaten up by a detestable little piece of paper called the rent check. Still, we are determined not to be defeated by the expense and exhaustion of life in this city and are in constant search during our non working hours to take advantage of the city. A few weeks ago for example we ventured over to Chelsea to peruse the cities most highly concentrated number of art galleries. Who knew that the art world had an off season and just like football did not have its home opener until the beginning of September. Most of the galleries were closed and we'll have to go back sometime soon.

We have already had a few visitors since arriving. Our friends Josh and Olivia stopped by from Princeton to check out the city for the day. That night was Tulsa's first game of the season and Josh was able to contact some TU alum whom we were able to meet up with and watch the game in a spacious apartment just a short 30 minute train ride north of the city.

Gregg is working hard as a contractor for his Philadelphia employer which is very fortunate since the job market in New York for engineers in his field seems to be non existent at the moment. Not that he's complaining. Who wouldn't want to make Auto Cad drawings from the couch all day with their favorite TV shows playing in the background.

My job is also going well. I'm learning all about children's books and books for young readers but am not impressed with every publishers misconception that teens are only interested in books about sexy vampires. Some of the perks of my job that I am enjoying are 50% off all items in the cafe and the ability to check out any hard cover book from the store to read and return. So if you are looking for a book to read and don't know what to read... consult me!

This past weekend Dave and Mallory came to visit and experience New York for the first time. The four of us spent two nights squished onto one bed and two couches with only moderate discomfort. We took them to Central Park yesterday afternoon and while walking through a particularly narrow path we came across Woody Allen walking inconspicuously with his wife. Seriously, we could have reached out and touched him had we not been the respectable and non intrusive fans that we are. Our reaction was instead overt gawking followed by giddy repetition of the phrase "OhmygoshIcantbelievewejustsawWoodyAllen!!" for the next half hour.

And to wrap things up I found out today that I did get the internship position with the Guggenheim and will be working as a teachers assistant every Wednesday at a school in Queens beginning in October. I'm excited! Hope everyone is enjoying the start of Fall.

-Libby