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Posts Tagged ‘NYC’

So, I started this little running class…

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , on October 15, 2010| 1 Comment »

And it is kicking my butt, literally.  My glutes are killing me.  Why? Because for the first time in my life, I am actually doing hill and interval training.  Coach Clancy would be proud.  I however, am not sure if I am going to make it through 9 more weeks of it 😉

I signed up for this running class through the New York Road Runners Club because I felt like I needed to motivate myself and kick start my running program.  Let’s just say that it has definitely taken my running to a new level and I have only been to two classes.  I thought the class would start at a gradual pace and we would work our way up to the hard stuff.  Not so, especially if you (meaning me) foolishly signed up for the intermediate class.

I arrived for the first class on Tuesday, anxious, excited and definitely nervous.  I really had no idea what to expect.  We met on the East Side, at P.S. 6 in the school’s auditorium.  There were about 200 plus people in various outfits ready to get their run on. We were soon divided into our various levels ranging from Beginner to Advanced Competitive and headed on up to the gym to stretch.  After our group stretch we made our way outside and were further divided into groups based on our 5K run time.  At this point we headed out to do interval, hill training.  During the interval training we were running two minutes faster than our normal 1 mile pace time. If you are not a runner this really means nothing- let me put it in perspective.  For me, it was definitely a cry or puke moment.  Back in the day (let’s say, in my early 20’s) when I was in really good shape and my friends and I used to work out and push ourselves for fun, we had a saying; when things got too hard that it was either a “cry or puke moment”.  You were allowed to do one or the other, but not both. On Tuesday as I was finishing my last interval and dragging my butt up the hill I was sure that there were tears in my eyes and I probably could have upchucked on my sneakers.

Last night was even more fun, it was hill training.  This means that in the pouring rain we got to run repeatedly up and down the “Boathouse Hill” at a fairly decent pace.  Again, I contemplated a few tears, no one would have noticed, as the rain was splashing down our faces. I arrived home exhausted and soaked.  A hot bath never felt so good.

Many of you may be asking yourself, why they hell do I do it?  I mean I really haven’t painted a very pretty picture of the running class so far.  I will tell you exactly why I do it- It makes me feel like I can accomplish anything I set my mind to. Last night, as I finished the last hill and I was running a nice steady pace back to the school, rain dripping off my nose and socks squishing in my shoes, I felt like a rockstar.  I had survived.  I really do feel that running, no matter how far you do it, really is a bit about survival.  It is just you against yourself and the pavement.  It is a mind game.  How far will you push yourself this time?

What else do I love about running?  I love that good tired feeling you get after a run.  I love that I sleep like a baby.  I love that I don’t have to feel guilty when I go home and crash on the couch.  I love that runners come in all shapes and sizes, speeds and distances.  I love that last night there were first time runners and marathoners all struggling up the same hill.  I love the way it makes me feel.  I love the running community and how supportive of each other they are.

I LOVE RUNNING.

“I always loved running…it was something you could do by yourself, and under your own power. You could go in any direction, fast or slow as you wanted, fighting the wind if you felt like it, seeking out new sights just on the strength of your feet and the courage of your lungs.”
Jesse Owens

Now, I just have to remember that the next time I feel too lazy to lace up.  Because for me, that really IS the battle.  And yes, I will survive the next nine weeks and I am secretly (not anymore) excited to challenge myself.  I think I can, I think I can, I think I can, I KNOW I can.  Oh ya, and there is that last little motivational push- I get to run in Central Park and past a little building called The Metropolitan Museum of Art and that doesn’t suck 🙂

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Wordless Wednesday: Moments In Manhattan

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , on October 13, 2010| 6 Comments »

 

This Barista Makes a New Hat For Every Season- Beyond Awesome!!

 

 

Taking Time Out to Write in Central Park

 

 

Catching Some Rays at the Dog Park

 

 

Patriotic Pee Post (aka Fire Hydrant)

 

 

Cupcakes to Go!

 

 

Did Someone Say Candy?!

 

 

No, YOU are!

 

 

Peace in the City

 

 

The Cathedral Church of St. John of the Divine

 

 

A & R Climbing the Trees NOT the Walls

 

 

NYC

 

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A Little Canadian Turkey Day Celebration in Manhattan

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , on October 10, 2010| 2 Comments »

 

Happy Thanksgiving!!

 

I am writing this post as the incredible aroma of a cooking turkey is wafting through the apartment.  Ron is making a traditional Thanksgiving dinner on the Sunday before Columbus Day.  Why?  Because even though we have moved to the United States we are having a bit of a tough time giving up some of our old customs and traditions, Canadian Thanksgiving being one of them.

A & R are getting really excited about Hallowe’en.  Last week they asked if they could start putting up the Hallowe’en decorations.  We pulled out the box and found our Hallowe’en decorations and our Fall Harvest decorations packed in together.  The topic of Thanksgiving came up and Ron and I explained that there was a long weekend coming up and that it was for Columbus Day NOT Thanksgiving.  A big long discussion began about US Thanksgiving, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade and of course the age old question- “just who the heck IS Christopher Columbus?”  Luckily, a library book on good ole’ Christopher helped us answer the last one 😉

Ron and I talked and we decided to go for it and celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving.  It would be a nice touch for the girls and we could have a lot of fun by inviting and including our ex-pat Canadian friends. We ordered the Turkey from Fairway, where the butcher politely asked if we were perhaps a month early and then extended the invite to friends who laughingly loved the idea.

So, here I am, sitting writing this post feeling a little nostalgic but also incredibly thankful.  The apartment is clean, we have layed out the decorations, guests will be arriving soon and a new tradition is born. We have had the extreme good fortune to start out on this new adventure and experience brand new things but sometimes it is okay to carry on with the traditions that we hold so dear to our hearts.

This is a new chapter in our lives and I look forward to starting to develop our New York family traditions. Even if it is a bit ironic that the first one is Canadian, eh?

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This Week’s Random NYC Observations

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on October 8, 2010| 4 Comments »

New Yorker’s love to share, in fact sometimes there is a little something called the over-share.  If you have ever walked down a crowded Manhattan street stuck behind a woman in a heated conversation with her delinquent boyfriend you will know exactly what I am talking about.  There is very little privacy in this city but that doesn’t mean that you have to share EVERYTHING.  The bedrooms of our apartment look out into the various rooms of the apartments across from us. There is a small gap between the windows. Picture a U shape.  An extremely tiny U shape.  There really is only about a distance of 10 feet between the windows.  Thus, the importance of CURTAINS. Especially, if the neighbour directly across from your (meaning our) bedroom has a very healthy porn habit and a HUGE computer monitor.  Dude, I don’t care if you watch porn, but really, why don’t you get curtains?  HE doesn’t seem to mind that every apartment building along our wall can watch him, watching porn.  Ewww.  I mean all I really want to do is open and close my window in peace.  I guess if he doesn’t mind, I shouldn’t, right??

While I am on the topic of over-sharing I also learned this week that you should always tip your limo driver WELL.  Yesterday, at a street corner I watched a woman exit a super -stretch white limo and proceed into a fancy, schmancy door man building.  The driver who was still recovering from carrying in her numerous large travel bags proceeded back to the limo yelling “Hey everyone, Miss Rich Bitch just gave me a $7 tip, oooo… a whole $7, what could I possibly do with that much money??”.  Yikes, I guess they didn’t teach that woman proper tipping etiquette at her private school OR the driver any tact in “limo driving 101”.

Hallowe’en is right around the corner.  Apparently NYC takes this festivity extremely seriously.  I guess this is the day where it is acceptable to be as crazy and outlandish as you want to be without any consequences.  However, I am not really sure how this differs from the other days of the year 😉  In NYC Hallowe’en is definitely NOT just for kids, in fact, there seems to be more events for adults being advertised than for children. Costume shops are sprouting up all over the city.  The other night on the way to yoga, I had a disturbing experience where a large gentlemen dressed as bunny tried to lure me into a store.  It was definitely a “my mother told me never to take candy from strangers” moment.

 

Costumes for whom exactly??!!

 

The City of Ottawa could learn a thing or two from the road workers of New York.  This week we have had to endure the re-paving of the street outside of our apartment.  I say endure because they re-pave at night.  Hear that Ottawa?  In the middle of the night, so they do not have to disrupt millions of commuters during the day.  So, needless to say, it has been a bit loud but hey, what’s one more thing to get used to listening to as you try and lull yourself to sleep at night? On the sleep note, I have learned that the city of New York DOES sleep.  But only during the hours of 4:00 and 6:30 am.  If you happen to find yourself awake at that time (damn bladder) it is actually very peaceful and almost eerily quiet.

The BEST thing that I found out about this week is that you can buy beer -to -go at Grand Central Station.  So, if you are a commuter that takes the train, you can grab a beer and settle into your seat, pull our your book and casually sip away during the trip home. How incredibly civilized. It almost (ALMOST) makes me want to move out of the city 😉

 

I'll take two please...

 

Oh ya, that also means that I visited Grand Central Station on the way to go and see Ron at work.  I absolutely LOVE this building and every time I walk in I am awestruck by its incredible beauty.  It really is a wild experience to just stand there and let the people pass you.  Everyone is on a journey to somewhere.  No wonder soo many movies have been filmed in this amazing building.

 

Grand Central Station

 

I finally visited Ron’s office building this week and I have to say I am a little bit jealous.  No wonder he loves his job and is happy at work.  Who wouldn’t be want to come in and sit in an office with this view everyday?

 

Ron's view of the Chrysler Building

 

I have to admit I did have a “Holy F, I live in NYC” moment again this week.  I was walking down the street and it just hit me out of no where.  I am NOT visiting, this IS where I live.  All the crazy adventures are mine to own.   And hey, I might just be adding a little craziness of my own right back into the city. After all, I am the woman walking around taking random pictures and mumbling about the value of curtains. 😉

 

One of NYC most famous residents!

 

Enjoy the weekend! I wish all my Canadian friends a VERY HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

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Miserable In Manhattan (Rain Sucks!)

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , on October 6, 2010| 4 Comments »

NYC is an amazing city filled with an advanced transit system, efficient services, polite people, incredible fashion and then it rains and all hell breaks loose.  The flood gates open and it is literally a sink or swim attitude. Yes, waking up to a cold miserable rainy day can make even the most cheerful person want to crawl back under the covers but there is a different kind of nastiness that takes over Manhattan.  Unlike other cities where it is a minor inconvenience to have to grab an umbrella or raincoat and stay dry from the walk to and from your car, there is no such luxury in this city.  This is the city of walking… everywhere.  Rain or shine.

The dogs still have to go out, the kids still have to go to school, groceries still need to be bought and library books still have to be returned.  All of these things come with a very special challenge all their own, when you wake up to the driving wind and rain hitting the side of your apartment building.  I am sure many New Yorkers call in and hide out.  It is very tempting, believe me.

When it rains in this city the first thing that happens is that the sewers start backing up.  Yummy.  Here is the corner outside of our building after a LIGHT rainfall.  Usually you can’t even walk across the cross walk because it is totally flooded.  Word to the wise, don’t ever, EVER, walk into a puddle if you cannot see how deep it really is.  Trust me, you only do this once to learn your lesson.

 

Beware of the MONSTER sized puddle!!

 

Secondly, the sea of umbrellas in the street is crazy!  Ahh, the umbrella wars, this becomes a game in itself as you jockey for position on the sidewalk trying to make room for your little bit of tent space.  By the way, the people carrying golf size umbrellas have their own special place reserved in hell. If you can make it to your destination without getting poked in the eye or soaked by someone else’s umbrella, consider yourself incredibly lucky. You would think that the large buildings in Manhattan would add some layer of protection from the elements. Not so!!!  What happens is that the buildings create giant wind tunnels that make it nearly impossible for a person to keep their umbrella right side in or to even hold on to it at all.  There is nothing more depressing than walking along the streets after a storm and seeing all of the broken umbrellas that litter the curbs. And if you are that poor unfortunate soul that has forgotten your umbrella at home, don’t worry, as soon as the first drop of rain falls, the umbrella vultures (my word for them) come out of the alleys and sell umbrellas to the cold and desperate. This IS the land of opportunity!

 

Jostling for position at pick-up at the girls school

 

Many of you are probably thinking, “Why not just jump into a cab?” or “Take the subway or bus?”.  You would think that this would be a sane solution on a rainy day but no, it is not.  All of the people that are usually out on the sidewalks have the same idea.  Public transit becomes crazy.  Subway cars are PACKED with dripping, sniffling, miserable commuters. Cabs are like little yellow elusive bugs.  They are everywhere, but some smug dry person is already sitting in the back, laughing at the people getting soaked by the puddles the cabbies are driving through and splashing up on to the curbs.  You want to hate them but instead all you feel is intense jealousy and the urge to cry.  Is it any wonder that in a fashion forward movement that only New Yorkers could pull off, rain boots have become a totally acceptable and encouraged accessory.  You NEED rain boots, remember that I mentioned before that the sewers back up? Here are a few samples of people embracing the rainy weather and showing off their wet weather style.

 

Loving the Skull and Cross Bones!

 

 

GRRRRR!!!

 

 

These are some SERIOUS boots!!

 

 

Ahh, the HUNTER, the classic Manhattan must have boot.

 

 

Kids need to get in on the fun too!

 

When it rains for days at a time and it seems like there is no end in sight.  I try and remind myself that the sidewalks need a good wash and the plants need it and… awww hell, just stop already!  I am beginning to want to curl up and hibernate.

 

I am in my happy place, I am in my happy place, I am in...

 

And then of course IT happens… You wake up and all you can hear are the buses, garbage trucks and sirens.  The rain has stopped.  The glorious sun is cresting over the buildings.  In the morning light the city looks brand new and the possibilities of the day are endless.  And just like that my heart bursts and I fall in love all over again.

 

The sun shining over the Romeo & Juliet statue in Central Park

 

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Dopey Dog In The City

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , on September 24, 2010| 3 Comments »

We moved all the way to New York City, the urban jungle, the concrete playground, the mecca for tall buildings so that Dopey dog could finally discover wildlife. This is not a joke. Back in the suburban hood life of Findlay Creek, the only other animal that he was exposed to was the neighbour’s cat. Not so here. He has a new obsession, the common squirrel. In the Creek, the trees were not large enough for the fluffy tailed critters. Here, in NYC, lots of big old trees equal lots of fast moving friends to be chased. And chase he does. You are probably thinking to yourself “so what?”. I mean what could possibly go wrong with a 100 pound dog trying to reach a squirrel up a tree on a Manhattan sidewalk crowded with people? Starting to get the picture? Yep, it isn’t pretty. Especially when I am also trying to hang on to the old man (Bogie- dog) and usually a large bag of freshly picked up dog turd. I can often be heard saying out loud to no one in particular, “Now Dopey, stop chasing the squirrels, they don’t want to play” as I am firmly planting my two feet, trying not to be pulled off the ground, while horrified Nannies give me scathing looks as they are sure Dopey is about to eat the children they are in charge of. I feel like telling them “Don’t worry, he only goes after squirrels, pigeons, rats and the occasional cockroach that crosses his path on the sidewalk”. Somehow I don’t think this will reassure them. All the while Bogie stands there looking horribly embarrassed and disgusted by the behaviour of his dog brother.

Yesterday, in a move resembling nothing short of brilliance, I decided to take Dopey with me when my mother and I went for a walk in Central Park. I guess I had forgotten how many trees there are in the park and well, you know, squirrels. It was a battle of wills and sheer strength but in the end I think I made my point. I was the human dammit, and he would listen or not…

On the hunt...

Success! Squirrel!

We survived. My shoulder is a bit sore today and Central Park squirrels remained safe. Dopey dog seems to be tired out. It is hard being the Dopey Dog in the City. People stop to admire him, want to play with him, ask about his fashionable Canadian leash and sometimes the occasional paparazzi (tourist) wants a photo with him. It’s a dog’s life!

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Wordless Wednesday- THE INTREPID

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , on September 22, 2010| 1 Comment »

Today on the first day of Fall, my parents and I visited one of NYC’s wonderful tourist sights, The Intrepid Museum.  Enjoy the photo montage.

I believe it actually says "Beware of Jet Blasts"

Awww... Mom and Dad

The Majestic Intrepid 1943-1974

I don't know where Tom Cruise is, but I found my Tomcat! (F-14)

LOVE!!

View of Midtown Manhattan from the flight deck

The Concorde and the Cruise Ship Parked "next door" to the the Intrepid

The Bell for De-Commission

"Requesting a Fly By..."

"Where'd who go??" (A little military presence, President Obama is in town today)

A spectacular day, indeed...

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Stalking Matt Damon And Manhattan Celebrity Sightings!

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , on September 21, 2010| 5 Comments »

Oh Yes, He Is Stalking Worthy 😉

Yes, there are many celebrities in New York. If you have ever read People Magazine or US Weekly, you will see that they are just like you and I, except for all of the fame, fortune and paparazzi that follow their every move.  Just like us, my ass.  Or are they?  I have now lived in NYC for two and a bit months and I have SEEN some celebrities.  Most notably, the President and his motorcade that just happened to cross our paths as the girls and I were walking home from camp one day.  Oh, and last weekend we walked by Anderson Cooper- gorgeous, but much shorter in real life. Just like Taye Diggs, who my friends and I saw at a Broadway Show once. I am sure that I have seen numerous other celebrities too.  When I say I am sure, I mean, I am not totally sure at all.  Because yes, they are like us. I have been out on the street and walked by a person and thought “Hey, that looks like…” or “I wonder if that was…” There are millions of people in NYC and they tend to just blend in, most of the time. Sometimes they are just too famous to be ignored.

This morning, I received a breathless phone call from my good Canadian friend (living in NYC) who shall remain nameless.  She was beside herself with excitement.  A friend had called her to say that Matt Damon was currently in the park with his children.  This friend of mine had been desperately trying to see Matt Damon (he lives in her ‘hood) since she moved to NYC, a year and a half ago.  All of her other friends that lived around her had seen him but she seemed to ‘just miss him’ all the time.  Today, she was determined.  She raced out her door and ran (not walked) to the park only to get half way there and find out via text that he had just left.  This did not deter my stubborn friend, she decided to wait near his building on the off chance that he would return home.  Her determination was rewarded as she caught a brief glance of the Damon family as their paths crossed.  She was elated.  I mean, who wouldn’t be?  Matt Damon, in the flesh- yummy!

Is this crazy? Maybe. Fun? Sure.  I mean really, if you are going to live in NYC, you might as well try and do a little celebrity watching (err, stalking) from time to time. Would I have scrambled out of the apartment to see Matt Damon?  Hmmm… hard to say.  I guess if I had nothing else to do 😉 After all, I have been known to walk the dogs by the Gossip Girl set when filming or stand on a street corner watching scenes of movies being shot. I think I would prefer my BIG celebrity sighting to be random.  This probably means that I will be picking up a large dog turd and will come face to face with Brad Pitt.  I will keep you posted… Remember, It’s Always An Adventure!

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Feasting Our Eyes in Little Italy

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , on September 19, 2010| 1 Comment »

My parents are in town visiting and we woke up to the usual weekend question of “what are we going to do today?”.  It sounds silly in a city like New York, that a person would even have to think twice about this question but sometimes having too many options can be extremely daunting. So, there we were sitting at breakfast trying to think of something to do that would engage three generations of, well, stubborn critics.  After another big gulp of caffeine, I went to my trusty new resource “Time Out New York For Kids”. It was there that I found out that the Feast of San Gennaro (street fair) was being held in Little Italy.

Yesterday was a beautiful late summer, early fall day in NYC. The skies were slightly overcast and the temps were warm, a perfect day to enjoy a classic weekend street fair.  A NYC street fair is a must see. They happen on most weekends in alternating parts of the city. Roads are closed off to cars so that pedestrians can meander down the middle of the block checking out various vendors that range from jewellery, t-shirts, artists, crafts, local shops and food.  Did I mention FOOD?  It is hard to wander by a street fair without checking it out because the food alone, will entice even the most jaded New Yorker.  So, we piled into the subway and made our way down to Little Italy to check out the Feast.

Little Italy in NYC basically consists of one glorious street- Mulberry Street.  I know that there are other wonderful Italian neighbourhoods in NYC, but the classic “Little Italy” is on Mulberry Street wedged in between Chinatown on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. It is an exciting street filled with culinary and cultural delights.

Mulberry Street

As a family, we navigated the crowds and were entertained by the various sights and sounds.  I still can’t get the song “Mambo Italiano” out of my head.  And then of course, there was the food.  Here is just a small sampling of some of the incredible offerings:

Deep Fried Oreos, Anyone?

Sausage?

A Feast Of Pasta

Don't Forget Dessert...

The hardest part of the walk was trying to figure out which delicacy to try.  The kids made it easy and wanted to try one of everything. The big hits of the day were the homemade Cannoli, Lemonade and Icies.  And of course, the rides.  Although, there IS something a bit un-nerving seeing a ferris wheel (even a mini-one) placed in between buildings in Manhattan.

A Mini Ferris Wheel on Grand Street

It was definitely a fun way to spend the afternoon and I don’t think we scared the parentals too much except when we hit the crowds on Canal Street to get home.  HA! It really is always an adventure… One that even Snooki and The Situation would have approved. 😉

Enough Said.

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It’s Friday And I am Thinking About Feet!

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , on September 17, 2010| 7 Comments »

It has become painfully (ouch!) clear to me that in order to live in New York City you must become a little obsessed with your feet. Here is a pic of my poor, sad feet after a day of shopping.

I know, I have a terrible Sandal tan!

Yes, I am in desperate need of a pedicure.  Yes, that is NYC dirt and grime stuck between my toes and YES, I do have a band-aid on my heel!!

When I was out in the stores today and was stuck on line* purchasing small, inexpensive items (hubby reads my blog) I began to notice an alarming trend on many of the women who were waiting ahead of me.  They all had band-aids of various shapes and sizes sticking out of their numerous types of footwear.  Surely they were not all wearing new shoes or were tourists.  And then I remembered, the seasons were changing. I am sure, like the purpose of my band-aid, they were breaking in old shoes as they wore them out for the first time in months.

NYC, is a very un-forgiving city in many ways, but it is especially hard on the feet. The poor old tootsies are beaten up on a daily basis, subjected to various types of torture including; gum on the sidewalks, dog droppings, random garbage, broken bottles, puddles of un-identifiable liquid, stepping on toe-itis in jammed subway cars, and of course, the worse offender- FASHION!  Say hello to these babies that I HAD to purchase today and I am sure will be very comfortable when I am standing for hours at a time 😉

Hello Gorgeous!

Is it any wonder that the only thing that is more prevalent than Starbuck’s on the streets of Manhattan is the Nail Salon/Club.  They are everywhere.  You can run in and get a pedicure in record time.  For a very small cost. I should be writing this post from a nail salon, my feet deserve it.  It is not smart to neglect your feet in Manhattan, they are the main mode of transportation. Unless of course you are in the economic stratosphere where you have your own personal driver.  But, if you had your own driver you would miss out on the best part of NYC, all of the fun of walking and exploring each site one pace at a time.  Where’s the adventure in that?

*ON line is a NYC term, native to New York that actually means IN line.  For example: “Excuse me, are you waiting on line to get tickets for the show?”.  Weird, I know.

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