New York City

Paul's parents and our nephew (Shawn) arrived at our home a little after 8am yesterday. Paul and I left about 8:40 after I put Nadia down for her morning nap. We made one stop en route to Newark and then took the PATH train into NYC and then took the subway to a stop near Tavern on the Green, which is in Central Park. Our reservations were for 1pm, and we arrived just a few minutes early. I took a few pictures as we walked back to the room where they said our table was located. When we got there, I thought this doesn't seem like the room where the buffet is served. I was told that we had reservations for brunch (off of the menu) not the buffet. I went to the bathroom while Paul sorted it out, and when I came back he said we'd have to wait 30 minutes. We waited a little for maybe 15 minutes while discussing our options. I usually eat lunch with Nadia at 11am in part because I have been eating dinner around 4pm on my way to work since I've had office hours/class from 4:10-7:15pm. I had eaten some grapes, an egg McMuffin, and a nectarine en route to Newark. I was trying to eat enough so that I wasn't miserable, but I still wanted to be hungry at 1pm especially since we were eating from a buffet. I was very hungry at 1pm, and if we had been allowed to start eating shortly after we arrived, I would have been fine. However at this point I had a splitting headache (from low blood sugar), and I was having a hard time thinking clearly to decide what to do. I had a banana and some crackers in my purse, but I didn't want to eat just a few minutes before we were seated in the restaurant. I also wasn't sure how long it would take us to get from the restaurant to the theatre for our 3pm show, and I didn't want to feel rushed during the meal considering it was going to be the most expensive meal Paul or I had ever paid for.

So at 1:15 I said let's go. I ate my banana, and we shared a hot pretzel we bought in Central Park. Instead of getting back on the subway (I was tired of sitting in a vehicle of any sort), we walked down Broadway toward Times Square. The last time we were in NYC was for a Duke bball game at Madison Square Garden, but the last time we were walking in this area of NYC was in 2000 when we saw Les Miserables. They've made fewer of the lanes of the road for cars and more for bikes and pedestrians. There were more bicycle type taxis than I remember seeing in the past in NYC; it reminded me of our time in Beijing. In hindsight, it didn't take very long to get to Gershwin Theatre from Central Park. We probably could have eated the brunch if they had seated as at 1:30. Well we saved a lot of money as we spent $16 for lunch (pizza and such) which would have been about the amount for tax/tip alone if we had eaten at Tavern on the Green. I had that on my "I want to experience once in my lifetime" list, but I think even though we didn't actually eat there, I'll cross it off the list. Most of the things on the list are much bigger than eating at a certain restaurant (such as we want to go to Hawaii some day).

The show (Wicked) was very good. It reminded me of the book which tells the story of the Three Little Pigs from the wolf's perspective. In this story, the Wicked witch is actually the protagonist who is far more helpful and kind than the "good" witch who is very self-absorbed and vain. The actress who played the part of the wicked witch was outstanding. Wow did she have a powerful voice!!! I would say that of the 6 Broadway shows I've seen, I would rate this one #3 after Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (which we saw in London) and Phantom of the Opera (which I saw in DC). I don't think Paul would rate the 4 he's seen in the same order I would. I know he really, really liked 1776 which was probably my least favorite.

Unfortunately our trip from NYC to Newark was a lot longer going back. At one point we JUST missed a PATH train because we were putting another $1 on our Metro cards. That alone extended our trip by 20 minutes. I think we need to get brave the next time we venture into NYC and actually drive into the city, particularly if we go on a weekend. The parking used to be a lot cheaper in Newark than NYC, but that also wasn't the case this time. Our reasons for going via the PATH train in the past were that it was cheaper and less stressful than driving in the city, but it's no longer cheaper, and I think I'd rather a few minutes stress of driving in a big city than extend the length of the trip significantly. Paul got some dinner at Wendy's on the way home, but the thought of fast food made my stomach turn so I waited until we were home at 10:30pm to eat a bowl of cereal before going to bed. I had eaten some crackers at about 5pm which was enough to tide me over although my stomach was growling much of the way home.

We had good conversation on the way to NYC although Paul didn't enjoy the part where we were talking about boy's names. He likes Gordon and Newton for first names for a boy, and I don't. Surprisingly he didn't mind one of my suggestions (Ryan). We shall see what we come up with. On the way there we laughed at one point when we realized we both had the same silly song (Aiken Drum) going through our head, LOL! We didn't talk much on the way back. I was not feeling well physically or emotionally. Thankfully since I had done the driving on the way to Newark, he drove us home. I was hungry for dinner, missing Nadia, etc. That was the longest I had ever been separated from her.

I think instead of a date in NYC we should have gone as a family to Knoebels amusement park. Paul's parents took Shawn & Nadia to McD's for lunch (she enjoyed her 2nd happy meal) then to the amusement park and then to Perkins for dinner. Even though she still has a very runny nose, and definitely isn't feeling 100%, she had a great time. They said she was waving to everyone as she rode the carousel and enjoyed riding in a little car with Shawn, etc. I think Paul & I will have to take her there sometime in the next month or so before it closes for the year. I was thinking her first trip to an amusement park would be Hershey Park in December (Christmas Candylane), but it sounds like she's already old enough to enjoy riding rides!

One of the other things contributing to my emotions yesterday was that the previous Sunday (in MD) I felt the baby kicking and doing gymanstics within me. I haven't felt anything for several days now, and it's making me very nervous. I need to go back and read my blog posts from when I first started feeling Nadia move as probably I didn't feel her every day at first then either. I am very glad my next appt is on Thursday. I would give anything to hear the heartbeat today, but I'll wait 3 more days. I didn't give consideration this time to renting a fetal doppler like I considered last time, but right now I wish I had one!!!

The other main thing that led me to feel bummed was thinking that we've now lived here for almost 11 months, and I still haven't made one new friend. There are a few super casual acquaintances at church, but that's it. I joined the choir and went to most of the monthly breakfasts for ladies, but so far I haven't made a new friend. I know it takes time, but I really would love to have at least one friend I could talk with on the phone now and then or go to lunch with, etc. Usually I am the one with more of a social life, but Paul actually has been doing more social things this past year than I have now (in State College). Of course if I had to pick between having a friend or having Nadia, I would definitely pick Nadia, and I also can't forget that Paul has been my best friend for over 12 years!!! I visited two other churches recently, and I plan to visit another in 2 weeks. Hopefully over the next year I can make one new friend - in the neighborhood, at church, something...

I know when I start feeling blue I should start counting my blessings. It's so easy to focus on worries and disappointments, but that really doesn't do anyone one ounce of good!! I am grateful that Paul's parents were willing to spend ALL day with Nadia, and I am grateful that Paul and I could go to NYC even though I don't want to do it again any time soon. I don't enjoy spending so much time on the road in one day (which is why we never go up/back to MD on the same day). If we lived closer to NYC, I am sure I'd want to go there more often though as there is so much to see and do there!!

I should have loaned our camera to Paul's parents as I ended up only taking a couple at the Tavern on the Green, and it doesn't make sense to post them since we didn't end up eating there. I thought we'd take a lot more. I even went and got my haircut the day before in preparation for our date. I tried to take one in the theatre before the show began, but I was told no pictures allowed. I think Nadia missed me also because this morning she was snuggled with me for about 20 mintues before we went down for breakfast. I love her sooooooooooooo much!!!