Concrete Jungle....Top 10 Favorites!

10 Reasons Why I Love New York City

10. The bump and go. In NYC it is perfectly acceptable to tap the car in front or back of you while parallel parking and I could sit on the car horn, if I felt the need.
9.The Subway. The fastest, cheapest form of travel with the most diverse form of entertainment, especially if your a people watcher, like me.
8.Live Music and Dancing. The city's energy is almost palpable, it is so motivating.
7.Food is everywhere! One day I ate a peach at one corner, a shish-ka-bob at the next, and an ice cream at the next!
6.Time is Precious. Buying food or walking across the street, I love how even the small tasks are fast!
5.Crazy Cab Rides.  They're like a roller coaster, I love it.
4.Central Park. This beautiful park has everything! Lakes, hikes, artists, and playgrounds. It keeps the city's chaos in balance.
3.NYC's Mentally Insane. This visits winner was the Italian, Terrets, Secret Agent (it was hard not laugh when he kept plugging up his ear, cussing, then pulling his sun glasses down as he would scan the streets of time square.)
2.New Yorkers say what they think. Quote of the trip, "I don't care if you give me 500 dollars! Get this plane in the air!" This was loudly announced to the whole airplane when the stuard explained that the plane was overbooked and offered one hundred dollars as compensation to give up their seat.
1. This is the place Ryan asked me to be with him forever!

Ryan and I left our three little sweet hearts with Grandma Robyn and met up in New York City!Our journey started off a little bumpy when, in the airport parking lot, I had to snatch Rylie out of her car seat because she was choking on a hard candy (to cope, Rylie had to call and tell daddy, "It was really serious dad").  Then, on the plane I sat next to a lady who liked to sleep talk fight! Yet, I still felt I was going to go crazy not multitasking and counting heads every three seconds.

 Ryan flew in the day before with a five hour layover in Chicago and got stuck in the New York hotel elevator, twice! I love the unknowns of traveling, it's an adventure every time. 

I couldn't resist taking a picture of the undercover cop car, but it's even better that the cop is smiling at the camera!
The first day Ry and I took the subway to Time Square, ate dinner at a little Irish Pub, and then saw the Broadway show Promises, Promises. The best part of that show was Kristen Chenoweth, the original Glenda, from Wicked. We saw her when Wicked was brand new on Broadway and had to see Promises, Promises as a tribute to her awesomeness!

Then we met up with Elder Steven Swan! He is my cousin serving a full time mission in New York. I love him and the Christ-like work he is doing. It will be good to have you home Steven!
Although I had dreams of jogging in central Park, I couldn't resist sleeping in the next day. Then I did something HUGE. I took the subway from Queens, where Ryan was in a meeting, to Saks Fifth Avenue........drum roll please......by MYSELF!
A few hours later, I met up with Ry and we went hiking in Central Park. The park is so big, I see a different side of it every time. Ryan took me to one of the castles as shown below. I love our flag on top!
Warning: this next story is funny, in a make-you-want-to-puke sort of way.
After hiking in the park, Ryan and I went into the bathroom. It was a typical public restroom experience. Don't touch anything. Graffiti on the walls and try to get out without touching the door handle. Upon meeting up with Ryan, I joked with him about my bathroom experience, only to find I had missed out on a truly artistic master piece. Apparently upon entering the men's bathroom, Ryan was greeted with a giant graffiti mural, painted in POOP! I started to laugh and gag at the same time. Then Ryan continued to describe the effort that it took to create such a look.......dipping fingers in to reapply the artists chosen hue of brown. OK, I'll stop you're probably gagging now too.



If you heeded my warning, start reading again HERE.
That night we saw La Cage, which was really funny, but be forewarned you will see a lot of men dancing in drag! We finished the night off watching the Celtics/Lakers game in the Hard Rock Cafe.

The next day was action packed starting with lunch at a little Colombian Restaurant, a bike ride in Central Park, Ryan laughing as Brooke pushed her bike around the taxi's, refusing to peddal, and thanks to our Verizon friend, we made our way over to the  METS vs YANKEES baseball game!

At the game we looked at every couple surrounding us, each one was rivaled against the other! It was funny considering Ryan and I were too. I was Yanks, Ry was Mets. THREE people were proposed to! One woman sitting by us wasn't even watching the screen and missed the whole thing. Her fiance made up for it though when he got down on one knee and then invited the whole crowd to their wedding.....we fully intend on going.
Blond moment. Brooke, "I can't believe Posada is only 20."
Ryan, puzzled, looks at the giant screen. "Hon, that's his number!"

Our last night down town we were left with a good laugh as a drunk lady made her loudest public announcement, "I am looking for a husband, three thousand dollars for a husband!" It was almost as funny as being asked if we were Jews, TWICE! I realize that a big portion of the white New Yorkers are Jewish, but really as a people, could we look any less Jewish?!

It is so puzzling to Ry and I, why we could love such a place like this? Especially when we are so passionate about the outdoors. On the plane ride home, we finally concluded we love places of extreme culture. Hopefully you enjoyed our trip highlights, like most of our trips, it was a last minute joy ride!