NYC: Stuff I Saw

It's the last day of June, and finally I'm posting pictures of things I saw in NYC.

You're welcome.

Here goes:

Live from the Top of the Rock,
it's New! York! City!

Rowing in Central Park

Manhattan Temple

Ellis Island reception room window

the Brooklyn Bridge

The Sphere at Battery Park

Lady Liberty

Ground Zero

Always Remember...

From the Roosevelt Tram
(where it was something like 100* F
plus humidity
minus any sort of circulation. UGH!)

A knitted bike
(Of course I was planning on seeing this whilst in Brooklyn)

Times Square

One Big City

Manhattan from Brooklyn

Central Park

Outside Bubby's

It really was a fantastic trip.

Too darn hot for the most part.

When we first stepped out of Grand Central Station, Jami and I were just astounded by the size of our surroundings; there is just so much to take in!

Jami became very adept at getting us from where we were to where we needed to be via the subway (bless her!).

We went to Tiffany's where I promptly felt out of place (I'll never afford anything from there),
but totally loved the free air conditioning.

Wicked was ridiculously, insanely amazing (Oh, that Glinda!).

The food of New York is so good I could cry.

Liberty Island was super cool, and I didn't even get to go inside the statue.

One afternoon/evening, the subway train we wanted was late (WAY LATE!), and we got lost in the crowd.

Wow. That was a lot of people
underground waiting for a train that kept not coming.
Did I mention earlier that it was disgustingly hot and humid?
"We, as a group, might not smell so good,"
I thought to myself.

Quick: can you figure out what is creepy unto me about this picture?
(Hello creepy man staring me down!)

Anyway, that's that. If you want to know more, feel free to ask!

How I Really Feel

A texted conversation between me and the only other person I know who truly appreciates Passenger...

Me: "Trying to hold a love that wants to go, it's like trying to catch a falling flake of snow. It glimmers while it can but it will melt between your hands, you know."
Wade: "Trying to keep alive a love that wants to die, teach the birds to swim and all the fish to fly.
Gills were made for water, and feathers for the sky, you know."
Me: Wade. It's nuts. I didn't know I could keep on loving Passenger more, but I do! Every time I listen to them! Especially when I really really listen to the lyrics. Dude. They're so simple yet so profound. Whoah.
Wade:I feel the exact same way. It snowballs, the love does. I've always liked the lyrics.
Me: I've always liked a wide variety of music. And I remember I've really loved certain artists and bands before I met Passenger. But all the other loves? They somehow seem so dim. How can that be?
Wade: It's the magic of Passenger. Don't fight it.
Me: Oh, I'm embracing it! But when I stop and think about it, I'm just...amazed I guess. Passenger has totally taken over my musical life. One of their CDs is always on in my car. And if I'm not listening to Passenger, I wish I was.
Wade: I could not have said it better myself.
Me: Why do they have to be in the UK? I got an email about their UK tour going on this summer and it hurts my heart that I can't afford a trip to England to hit up one of their concerts. *sigh*
Wade: I've felt this pain many times over.
Me: :) So how's life outside of Passenger?
Wade:I wouldn't know, lol!

In our first two texts, we were quoting lyrics from Blind Love. I would tell you this is one of their best songs, except that all of their songs are best.

NYC: the Food

It's 7:24pm on a Wednesday evening; I SHOULD be playing softball.

Yesterday was the first day of summer, and the weather has been grand! I think it's even hit the eighties the last couple of days. WELCOME SUMMER! I could get used to this!

But then?

BUT THEN...just before our game was to start, it started raining hard, interspersed with large and heavy hail. Also, there was lightning.

Wait, why am I talking past-tense? This little summer storm is swirling around us, not passing over us.

Long story short: the game was cancelled due to lightning. Total. Bummer.

MOVING ON...

...to New! York! City!

NYC was disgustingly hot whilst I was there (upper 90s, plus humidity: ICK); dodging inside a deli to cool off and eat was wonderful. (And necessary.)

The "Alice"
(turkey, granny smith apples, brie, lettuce & honey dijon on whole wheat bread)
(Toasties in Chelsea)


I don't remember what this is called,
but it was some sort of grilled sandwich.
and it was AMAZING!
Maybe one of the best things I've ever eaten.
(Amy's Bread at Chelsea Market)

My new friend (never got his name)
who suggested the amazing grilled sandwich above.

Cherries and cream scone (also from Amy's Bread,
also at the suggestion of my new friend)

PIZZA!
sausage, sun dried tomatoes and ricotta cheese with fresh basil;
this was Jami's suggestion, and it was a winning combo!
(Grimaldi's in Brooklyn)

Key Lime NY Cheesecake
(Magnolia Bakery)

Pumpkin Pecan NY Cheesecake
(Magnolia Bakery)

A real NY hot dog
(Gray's Papaya)

Homemade potato chips with melted bleu cheese;
I totally loved this more than I thought I would!
(Bubby's in Tribeca)

SO! DANG! GOOD!
(The Shake Shack)

Nice cold smoothie
(forty carrots at Bloomingdales)

There you have it: I love New York City for her sandwiches.

PS The storm that kept me from playing softball has passed...

Life Goes On?

I know it. I KNOW IT!

I've been back from NYC for something like 11 days (but who's counting?), and I've only done a couple of posts about My Adventures in the Big Apple; and although I'm still kinda laughing over the Bum post, I haven't really done my trip the justice it deserves.

I swear, those posts (the ones that will do it justice, I mean) are on their way, I swear it unto you! Just know I have a really good excuse for not jumping right back into the blogging game.

I have my reasons!

Mostly it's that time went on without me while I was away, the way it always does! (What's up with that anyway, universe?) So yeah, between work and church and softball (we won both games last week!), I've been kept pretty busy.

Plus, the one Saturday I've been back in Idaho, I was kept spectacularly busy: driving up to Mesa Falls, "hiking around" Mesa Falls, driving back from Mesa Falls, taking a quick nap, getting the house ready for a pot luck, enjoying the pot luck and my visitors, and watching that truly heinous movie with Janae and Jess. (No sweat, Janae! I'm still not judging!) -And that was just Saturday!

Anyway, I'm sure I care more about my NYC trip more than all y'all do, but in my own little fantasy world, you're all dying to see and read about Taking On the City: Ginabean Style. It's coming, friends.

While I already have your attention, I'll show you the few pictures I took at Mesa Falls and all that jazz...

First, softball...

One time when I was up to bat last Wednesday, I swung with all my might and ended up bunting.
So I ran for all I was worth and ended up falling onto first base. (I lack grace?) My already-scabby-knee got torn up, and the previous scab was loosened entirely. It was gross. And hurty.

See what I mean? GROSS

And HURTY

Like I said, this past Saturday, a group of us went up to Mesa Falls for our traditional Mesa Falls "hike." I think there were about a dozen or so who went this year...but most of them wanted to meet at 7:30am; Keri, Aaron and I wanted to meet a bit later, so we did. It was the plan to meet up with them at the falls, but we never really specified which falls (upper or lower), and so...we kind of didn't technically meet up with the rest of the group until lunchtime. (We've always started out at Lower Mesa, so I thought, naturally, that our group would've gone there first. Boy were we wrong!) So yeah; all these pictures will just be of our small group...

Keri and Aaron at Lower Mesa
(the falls were huge this year
because of all the rain and snow we've gotten!)

Also at Lower Mesa...

Aaron got "tired" on our hike back up,
so Keri gave him a piggyback. For a few steps, at least.

Me and Keri at Upper Mesa Falls

So lovely!!!

Anyway, I've given you my word that more NYC posts are on their way, and I am a man of my word!

Bums of New York

I used public transportation a lot on my trip to the Big Apple; it's the thing to do, after all.

(Pretty sure nobody could pay me enough to try to navigate the streets of New York, and actually put up with all that traffic and honking. "Excuse me, bucko, but did you just honk at me? Oh no you di'int! Honk this!" I feel quite certain that even the thought of driving in NYC takes me to a dark place I'd rather not venture!)

But I digress...

As I sat on buses and subways and trains, I noticed people's bums. In my face. Frequently.

Being the extremely mature adult that I am (sarcasm), it quickly became apparent that I needed to turn this into a game; a game of taking pictures of people's bums. Without their knowledge. (Thanks, Jami & Janae, for the idea!)

*Disclaimer: If anyone had the idea to take a picture of my bum as it was inches from their face on the subway, I say go for it! It seems like the logical thing to do; I'm not wrong, am I?

So, yeah. I did it. I played a game that I coined "Bums of New York." And every time I took a picture of another bum, I'd send it along to Janae. (You're welcome, friend!)

Now I'm going to share it with the rest of y'all. (Of course I am!)

Episode 1
I call it Manhattan Bottom

Two Bums
Bad angle, but ever-present!
(This was on the Staten Island Ferry)

Blurry Bottom
(I almost got caught taking this one!
Aaaand that's why it's so blurry.
The owner of this bottom is foreign and seemed a decent fellow)

Secure In His Masculinity

May I Have Your Ticket, Please
(picture by Jami)

Not Bad...
(Hi, Jami!)

Nice in New York
(Kind of, I enjoy his back and shoulders. Just sayin'.)

Too Tight!

I'm pretty sure that this is the order in which the pictures were taken; Too Tight was taken my last full day in The City, after all. But then...(but then!) Jami and I were waiting at the depot for our bus to shuttle us to the airport, and low and behold, the motherload was perched just ahead of us in line. Behold (the grand finale!):

Whoah, Nelly!
(This one makes me exceedingly uncomfortable!)

Wasn't that fun?! You're welcome for being so sharing!

To NYC and Back...

I'm back, baby!

I've got lots of pictures and stories to tell, but not nearly enough time to fit it all in one post, so keep checking back...

The highlights:

*The Manhattan Temple
*Wicked
*Rowing in Central Park
*The Alice sandwich at Toastie's Deli (in Chelsea, I want to say?)
*That awesome grilled sandwich at Amy's Bread
at Chelsea Market (and the cute guy behind
the counter who recommended it ;)
*The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
*Ground Zero

Entertaining Moments:

*Really and truly discovering how incredibly disgusting
heat+humidity can make a person feel.
*Jami wanting to be Elphaba,
but totally relating to Glinda on so many levels.
*Ending up in Times Square while looking for Rockefeller Plaza
(we got so lost our first day there!)
*Getting chastised by one of the street performers for blocking
people's way, only because I was enjoying and appreciating
the street performer's smokin' bod. (If he'd have put his shirt on,
I'd have kept right on walking!)
*Realizing too late that the Roosevelt Tram had zero circulation
and therefore was a bad idea on a freakishly hot day...
*Trying to figure out why my wounded knee (from softball)
wouldn't scab over; I blame the humidity.
*Running from platform to platform on the subway a few times.
*Running up 4 flights of stairs at Grand Central Station
(from Line 7, which must be very near the earth's core)
only to miss our train to New Canaan, CT, by 90 seconds.
*Trying to avoid getting hit by the rowboatsful of
adolescent private school girlies.
*Chatting with Chessie while she painted pigs on my pigs.
*All that gelato from Gelatissimo in New Canaan!
*Listening to Neil Diamond's America
while boating to Liberty Island.
*Trying to lean our seats back during the flights
only to realize we were above the wing,
and therefore, the seats don't recline.
*Getting boat-sick while we were still docked
on our tour to Liberty and Ellis Islands.
*Seeing that guy on the train who babied his dog
to an unhealthy level.


The Real Miss America
(so stunning up-close!)

Chessie's handiwork on my toenails...

There was more. (Much more!) I'll post more later...

Umm, Ouch...

Softball season is back again! Hooray! We've only played two games because of inclement weather last week; but so far we're 2/0. We've won quite comfortably both times, too.

I'm the catcher for our team; I used to just take the position because nobody else liked it, but over the course of the past few seasons, I've come to really enjoy the position. And I've gotten better, too! On Wednesday's game, one of the gals on the other team hit a pop-fly, and I decided to go for it. And I totally caught it, y'all! And that was the third out! I felt like a real live hero!

Thing is, I don't exactly transition from squatting to running very smoothly, and after I caught the ball, I crashed.

OUCH.

It hurt. And it made me sad.

I hate pain, but it felt really awesome snagging that pop-fly.

Also, I'm super excited that softball season is here! Yay!

Date w Jackson. Cuddle w Seth. Smooch w Emmett. Dance w Marshall...

So. Memorial Day weekend wasn't full of warm weather and outdoor fun; not in my neck of the woods, at least. Friday was lovely, and then it all went downhill from there.

But! I got to spend some quality time with some studly fellas, if I say so myself. In one single Friday, I managed to: go on a fun little date with Jackson; cuddle with Mr. Sethington; smooch with Emmett; aaaand dance with Marshall. Boo-yah, baby!

Also on Friday, I got to go for a walk with Jane, and giggle with Kaylee.

Friday was kind of fantastic.

I decided at the beginning of the year that for each of my nieces' and nephews' birthdays, I'd take them out for a little date; one-on-one time with their adoring Aunt Gina.

Jackson's birthday was actually the middle of April, but I wasn't able to take him out until this past Friday. We ended up going to McDonald's for an ice cream sundae (a real winning combination for Mr. Jackson: he loves ice cream and chocolate). Before we could order, though, Jackson made a beeline for the Play Place so he could climb to his heart's content.

Caged and happy!

I scream, you scream...

Me and Sethington

Emmett: impossible not to love!

My Marshall...

Janie bug

Kaylee face

Last Saturday, Mom and Dad and I went to SLC to see Les Mis at the Capitol Theatre. I love that show...

We also had a family picnic at Aaron & Amy's on Memorial Day. (It was supposed to be a full-fledged barbecue, but the nasty weather prevented us from wanting to spend much time outdoors...)

More pictures:

Tut, tut, looks like rain...

Cute cousins
(Jane, Marshall and Kaylee)

Anyway...you get the idea, right? Despite the cold, rainy weather, my Memorial Day weekend was pretty dang good!