Home again... home again....

Finally caught up on the posting of the pictures (not caught up on the sleep)...

After a busy day in NYC, we finally got home a little after 2 a.m. The dog was so excited that we had to play with her for a bit before we unpacked and tried to get some sleep.

When I woke up a couple of hours later, I had to remind myself that I wasn't in a hotel and that it was time to get back to the normal routine.

On tonight's agenda... sleep.

Oh, I wasn't feeding the birds... I'm just a messy eater

Monday's picture....

I love Central Park! I love watching the people and the wildlife (though some are harder to categorize).

We walked all over Manhattan. I really wish I could have stayed longer.

Maybe we'll be back at Christmas time with the kids...

The quest for zen butter ice cream

Sunday's picture....

Several weeks ago, my son stayed with my niece for a couple of nights. There he was exposed to zen butter ice cream from a cool little store in Chinatown in NYC. Since then, he has mentioned it several times (I got the hint... do I get some kind of award now?).

After checking into a hotel in midtown on a rainy Sunday, we headed out to Chinatown. We walked and walked and walked. And then stopped for some dumplings. Then, we walked and walked and walked. And then stopped to watch a bunch of people playing Mah Jong and soccer (no... not mah jong AND soccer together) in the park. Bonus! I got to see a big rat run by while in the park! And then we walked and walked and walked in drizzling rain. Finally, we found the cool little ice cream shop.

And they were out of zen butter.

So, when we found the costume shop, we had to right this wrong with the purchase of a cool new mask for the boy.

Isn't it awesome?!

Fall weather rocks!

Saturday's picture...

Got up early for what is now one of my most memorable runs. As I was running through the greens in the center of New Haven reveling in the cooler and relatively humidity free weather, a bird pooped on my arm. Bird poop is good luck (though I'm not sure why)! Then a homeless dude jumped up from his bench and started cheering me on and gave me a high five. I wonder if he knows how much that encouraged me and made me smile.

For the rest of the day, we walked to other parts of the Yale campus (I'm so impressed with the ice rink for the hockey team!); rode the bus to West Haven to attend the Italian Festival (OMG at the invention called 'fried dough'); came back to the New Haven to attend the Latino Festival (hilarious to watch all the people dancing); discovered a fabulous yogurt store (pay after you weigh); found a dim sum restaurant (dim some good dumplings!); and realized that I like to eat way too much (I run to eat).

Oh, New Haven, how I love your cooler temperatures and all your outdoor eating areas.

Tourists

Friday's picture....

Spent the day in New Haven with the youngest boy; found the best pizza in the world; walked to the home of the original hamburger; toured the campus; walked through the old cemetery; and ate several small meals.

It was so good to see the boy in his new surroundings. He has ton of friends, tons of things to read, and tons of laundry scattered about his room. Some things may never change.

In the campus bookstore, we found a big section of books written by Yale authors. It was rather impressive!

The beginning of the culinary madness

Thursday's picture...

In order to be at the airport by 4 a.m. the next morning in Jacksonville, we decided to spend the night there since it is a couple of hours away from our town. The intention was to leave town early. The reality was that it didn't happen. A busy day... finishing up packing.... a minor bus accident at school.... really I have to get out of here... getting a little lost while searching for the hotel.... finally lead to a quiet Thai restaurant with some fabulous food.

We should have considered sleeping at the restaurant with it's cozy atmosphere.

New Haven and New York... Here we come!

Getting ready for the voyage...

Packing, laundry, and more packing. After work tomorrow, we leave for the airport to fly to New York and Connecticut for a few days. I'm so excited about getting out of town. And I'm even more excited about seeing the boy. I've missed him living right down hall.

I won't have computer access for several days... so, be good and I'll catch up on posts when I return.