Back in the Land of Iced Tea

So, Mom and Dad picked me up at the airport on Wednesday night.  Mom says, "Are you hungry?"  No.  I just got off of a plane.  My stomach probably won't like food until tomorrow.  BUT I did want some iced tea.  So, we went and got tea.

Can I just say that there is one thing that I don't think I could really live without:  the opportunity to have iced tea.  Maybe I would if I had to (you know, like living in Africa).  You don't think about it until it tastes like pooh (like in NY), but it seems to be an essential part of summer life for me (and I'm sure for all of you, too).  It's like Diet Dr. Pepper.  I like it.  Alot.  And I always drink it in the summer.  It was one thing I craved in NY that I didn't get.  So, that's how I celebrated coming home.

For some of you who know my entire story (i.e.  the reason that I went), I would like to say that I am moving to NY, I just don't know when.  The only thing the Lord told me when in NY was that He needed to put something in place before I could come.  I still get to pray that one out!  So, we will see how He moves.....

Thanks for the prayers you all sent my way while I was in NYC.  It was fun, and I learned a lot.  So, thanks.  Until the next time the Lord moves.......

Micale

The Antichrist is not here....I think.

I chickened out on walking across the Brooklyn Bridge.  Although it really isn't chickening out when your feet have blisters on them.  At least, that's what I say.  Too bad because I hear that the best pizza is just over the bridge.  So, my blisters forced me to seek out NY pizza elsewhere.

I started out my day as usual, and I began to walk (in flip flops) up 5th Ave.  I am soooooo glad I did because I found my favorite NY store.  That's right!  And do you know what they sell?  If you know me, you KNOW the answer to that question right off of the top of your head.  HATS!  That's not all they sell; I found some awesome stuff to take home there.  Prices were better than my favorite store at the mall:  The Icing.  What?!  Cheaper in NY?!  I KNOW!  They had the rolling carry-ons that I saw a lady with when I first got here.  It's the only store that I saw them in.  I'll take a picture of it later, but it is super cute.  The store is called PrimaDonna's.  If you are ever walking up (or down) 5th Ave, you have to stop in.  They have TONS of shoes, jewelry, and all sorts of accessories.  And yes, my personal NY souvenir is a hat (and it DOES NOT say I heart NY - I still am having a hard time understanding why people buy those shirts and wear them around the city!  Quit telling people that you're a tourist.)  I did not buy the carry-on during my first trip.  I thought:  "I do not want to carry that all over the city, so I will come back."  And I did later.

I wandered up 5th Ave. until I got tired of it.  And that didn't take long since I have already seen it.  So, I decided to find the elusive Chrysler Building.  When you see it at a distance, for some reason, it doesn't photograph well.  I have seen the top of it everyday, but could not get a decent picture.  So, I decided to go hunt it down.  After all, I found the Empire State Building, so I can go look at the Chrysler Building, too.  (But before I leave 5th Ave. all together, I have to tell you that I saw a guy playing his banjo while walking down the street!  Hahaha!  That's nothing.  Yesterday, I saw a guy walking his dog and playing the ukulele!  I laughed on the inside so hard at that!  Who would think to combine those two?  Evidently he did.)

So, I head down Lexington, and all of a sudden, I hear a part of what had to be a good conversation.  All I heard was this guy saying, "and all these things happen.  And you know what it points to?  There's only one Creator."  That's all I heard.  I think they turned into a building, and I didn't get to hear the rest of it.  The one conversation that was worth listening to, and I didn't get to eavesdrop!  But, next thing I know, I see the Chrysler Building, so I take a few pics and head for a Starbucks.  I wanted something COLD to drink!  As I sat there, I remembered that I was going to see the United Nations Building.  Actually, I didn't really care if I saw it.  I just wanted to know if the Antichrist was there.  Not that I really expected God to tell me, but you never know.  You would think that if he were standing right in front of you, you'd know.  Anyway, I looked up where it was on my phone, and I saw that I was only three blocks away.  So, I decided to head over.

I think most of the visitors were foreign.  It wasn't that impressive.  I didn't care that much for it, but I took pictures anyway.  The walk ways were all named after important world figures.  And they have the prettiest parks there.  I did not take pictures of them because there were so many people in them!  They were crowded!  So, I walked on towards a little walkway that I had spied earlier.  It looked prettyish from across the road, but when I got there, it was not that great.  As I came to it, I found an inscription on a wall with a staircase going back up to another part of a building.  It read (and I took a picture), "They shall beat their swords into plowshares.  And their spears into pruning hooks.  Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.  Isaiah"  Isaiah who?  That's my question.  Where you get that little quote from?  Huh?

So, I walked on, and I decided that I was done for the day.  I went back to PrimaDonna's and got my little carry-on.  I headed back to the hotel to drop everything off.  The handles started ripping on the bag, and holding it started making my hand sweat!  Yuck!  I stopped off in Madison Square Park and sat for a while.  I saw a grey tailed squirrel.  I've never seen one of those before.  I tried taking a picture, but he kept moving.  How rude!  I finally got up and got back to the hotel.  I started moving everything into my new carry-on.  It's good to know that everything will fit.  Oh, and I took great pictures of the street grime on my feet today.  If you look closely, you can see the blisters and the rubbed parts of my feet!  Um, if you come to NYC, you need to make sure that you have just-broken-in shoes, and not almost-done shoes.  I really didn't think that my shoes were that bad.  Anyway, I washed my feet and headed out to find dinner.

Because my friend, Karen told me to (haha), I decided that I would have pizza tonight.  And I found a little place just to the south of Union Square that was pretty good.  The pizza sauce here (assuming that it's all the same), is a little bit more tomatoey than our normal pizza places back in OK.  But it actually tasted good.  Karen's right.  If you're going to eat pizza, eat it in NYC.  Afterwards, I got a small bowl of hazelnut gelato, and headed back to Union Square.  There were no seats available in the park!  Everyone was there!  So, I ate it in the park standing up!  After that, I walked up to Barnes and Noble.  It's huge - four floors.  I went around all four, but while they carry a bit more, the store was just as boring as the one back home.

Again, I walked around a bit, but after a while, flip flops just don't feel good.  I wanted nothing more than to sit down, put my feet up and be AC'd for a while! So, here it is 8:22pm EST, and I really want to go to bed!  That is sad.  Tomorrow I leave to go back home, and I am looking forward to getting back into the pool (even if it is over 100 degrees).  I will have one more blog post tomorrow or Thursday to tell you about my departure.  If it's anything like the arrival, that will be a story to tell.  Well, I'm logging off for tonight.  I am praying for smooth, and quick flights tomorrow!  Praise God.

Here Comes the Sun....Well, the Sunburn Anyway

Last night at church, I lost my sunglasses.  And I had to buy a new pair this morning.  I didn't mind because my old pair had this strange habit of falling and popping the lenses out of the frame.  To whomever has my sunglasses, careful.  You might pop a lens!!!!  Hahaha.  

Today I decided to go see The Statue of Liberty.  I think that all Americans should see it in person some time in their life, and this was my opportunity.  However, I will get to that in a bit.  I started my day off normally - I went to the local Dunkin Donuts to eat breakfast.  Yes, I have eaten breakfast there everyday, and yes, I will do it again for the next two days.  Why?  Because I can, and I don't WANT to drive all the way to 39th and Meridian to eat breakfast there in OKC when I get back!  Besides, when I'm back in OKC, I'm back in my truck and that means no more doughnuts for me!  In NYC, you can eat a doughnut every morning with no problem because NYC is its own weight loss plan.  You walk EVERYWHERE!  And I walked everywhere I should have taken a taxi!  Haha (for real).  Stefanie, your pants don't fit anymore, but thanks again for letting me borrow them.  

Okay, so I left Dunkin and set off to find a Kinko's so that I could print off my voucher.  I got there, and my card didn't work in their machine.  Really?  The lady that helped me was super nice, and she did it on her computer for free because she didn't want to break my 5.00 bill for a .15 copy.  She was extremely helpful, which I have to point out here that NYer's are painted completely different.  When I first got here, I thought I would be like everyone else and not be polite (not that they are rude, they just don't say things like, "Excuse me" or "Thank you".  And NO ONE held a door for me until today.  I'm just saying.  I like OK for that reason.  You go anywhere, and someone will hold the door for you whether they are doing it FOR you or not.  We just do it.  It's who we are.  Well, in NY, they don't.  It's just who they are.  Anyway, after the first day of not saying the polite phrases that I am used to hearing and saying, I decided that I am NOT a NYer, and I never will be.  So, I started saying my normal stuff and smiling at people....making eye contact when I should (and NOT when I shouldn't - I'll tell you that story later).  It's funny how they react.  At first, they don't smile or show any emotion, but when you do, they do.  It's like a bright spot comes into their day.  I really don't know how to explain it.  But when you say, "Excuse me" and smile, they will, too.  But if you don't, you may not get a glare - you won't get anything!  I have even found that if they are the ones that all of a sudden STOP in front of me (which is annoying, by the way), if I say "Excuse me" as I go around, they'll still say it back.  I don't know why I got off on that, but I find it interesting.  

I also find styles of clothing interesting.  I past a girl today that looked like a street walker, and another lady that I could not believe that she tried her outfit on in front of a mirror!  I can't even describe it to you.  I wanted to take a picture, but I knew that I would be making fun of her, so I didn't.  But it was bad.  And what is up with the girls wearing their black bras under see through shirts?!  WHO SAID THAT WAS IN STYLE?  It just looks gross.  Wear a tank top.  Please.  Okay, enough of the clothing issues I have with NY.

So, after the nice lady at Kinko's, I went on my search for sunglasses.  I wanted my morning DDP, so I stepped into a ... yep, you guessed it....Duane Reade Pharmacy!  I think I have now hit just about every single one in Gramercy,  Union Square, and lower Manhattan.  And guess what they sell?  Sunglasses.  So, I found a decent pair that wound up being half price.  Cute and half price.  Great!  Praise God for good deals!  That's when I looked at the time, and went, "uh oh!"  I had an hour to get from 20th to Battery Park.  That just would never happen!  I knew it.  I thought, "I'll just walk far enough to get closer and then take a taxi the rest of the way."  Yeah, right.  At 12:35, I decided that I would just walk the rest of the way for the sake of exercise.  If I had to, I could just get another ticket for the 2:00 ferry.  It was cheap enough.  I'm glad I did.  And here's why:

First of all, I took the oddest route because of where I started (21st and Park Ave. S.).  I just headed straight south, and went through a neighborhood that I did not particularly want to pass through again on my way back.  It wasn't bad during the day...I just didn't think that it would be as nice after 5:00 or later if that was what happened.  I will just input here that is why the Lord gives us wisdom.  Okay, moving on.  I actually hit Tribeca, which is the DUMBEST name for the phrase "Triangle Below Canal St."  And it really is a triangle.  I had to take the long side of the triangle to get back on track because Park does not go all the way to Battery Park.  When I finally got on the new road and I have travelled a bit, I look ahead, and I see a swarm of people!  And for the second day in a row, someone stopped me and asked me for directions.  Yes, I did direct them properly....you see, that is what you all get for taking taxis all the time.  When you walk, you learn your way around!  Ha.  Okay, but the swarm of people.....guess where I was?!

World Trade Center/Ground Zero.  Really.  I had no idea it was going to be on my way.  I wasn't looking for it, and I didn't even have it on my list of "must sees", but  I ran smack into it.  I seem to keep doing this.....running into things that I wasn't looking for....for all the ones that are praying for divine appointments and for me being in the right place at the right time, could you be more specific and use the word, "PEOPLE", please?  Because I really think your prayers are working, but I'm being moved to see places, not really people.  Hahaha!  In case you want to know, they are currently working on a new tower and the memorial.  You can't see the work on the memorial because the street is blocked by signs.  I didn't stay long, I was still trying to make the 1:00 ferry.  I knew I'd just come back by.

Okay, so Battery Park is really pretty.  And that is where you go to get on the Statue Ferry.  I have to tell this story.  A lady was telling her kid that they were on a ferry, and the little girl (maybe 3 or 4) says, "A fairy?"  The lady then had to explain that it wasn't a flying FAIRY, it was a people FERRY.  Hahaha!  That made me laugh.  Speaking of funny stories (this just happened in my room - I am playing some classical music because I wasn't really feeling the rock tonight.  Actually, I started with a little bit of guitar music - that's right, Dad.  I was listening to Chet Atkins; Sails and Smokey Mountain Lullaby.  Anyway, I looked over at the classical music, and I read what was playing:  "Air on a G String"!  WHAT?!  That's awful!!!!!  Even as I type it, I am laughing hysterically.  Those poor musicians had no idea what their titles would mean all these years later!  No, wait.  I'm still laughing.......oh, okay, where was I?)

So, I get on the ferry, and can I just say that today was H-O-T hot?  Really, I got slightly sunburned in NY.  (What?!  Micale, aren't you already tan from the pool?!  See what I mean?  H-O-T hot!  Actually, it was yucky humid.)  Getting on the ferry was wonderful.  There was the breeze off of the water, and I think everyone started to feel better.  The only AC we ever experienced in the entire line was in the security checkpoint.  Yes, there is a security checkpoint.  It's like going through airport security except that they don't take your picture....I don't think.  Hmmmm......But I didn't get to go to the crown or the base of the statue.  All of those tickets were sold out.  Oh well.  Once we got off of the ferry, I went into the bathroom because well, you know.  For the second time today, I found soap dispensers that didn't work.  I am so glad that I decided to bring hand sanitizer with me!  (Really, you should fix your soap dispensers!)  I was disappointed because they had the fun hand dryers that you put your hands down, palm toward your legs and you slowly pull out (like a car wash dryer), and I didn't get to use that. 

The restrooms were in the gift shop.  And it was PACKED.  I looked at stuff, but I just kept thinking, "Why in the world would I want to keep a 6" replica of the Statue of Liberty anywhere in my house?"  I know that sounds terrible.  But while I think every American should see it in their lifetime, I do not think that I should have to buy a mini statue to remember the big one.  I don't need the 1" Christmas ornaments either.  Actually, I wouldn't have minded picking up a copy of the poem that is inscribed on the base of the monument, but did they sell that?  NO.  So, I didn't buy anything.  Sorry if anyone was expecting a souvenir from the Statue of Liberty.  I can tell you right now that you will be disappointed when I get back.  (Sorry.  You really should have told me.  Those 1" Christmas ornaments were cheap!)

Next, I went out to take a look (and lots of pictures) of Lady Liberty.  And I have to say that it was a little boring.  She just stands there.  And she looks just like she does on TV (and in the movies).  But just because you have seen her on TV, you still have to see her in person.  Yes, you do.  Yes, you do.  Stop it.  You do....but only if you're an American.  Actually, I found this rather interesting.  I eavesdropped on a lot of french people.  One said that her son should have brought a hat.  A bunch of little girls said something that was actually hard to follow because they were giggling the entire time.  And a lot of other french I couldn't catch because I was walking past them and my french isn't that good.  And I have to say I find it interesting that they would come all the way to NY and see the original of the statue that sits near the Eiffel Tower (I don't remember where exactly).  If I could speak french well enough, I would have asked if it looked identical (although I already know the answer) or why did they come see it (conversationally, not meanly because I am curious to know - is it the size that attracts them?  Maybe they aren't from Paris.).  Most everyone around was speaking in another language.  There wasn't a lot of English speaking except by the captains of the boats (there was one family of NYer's on the way back to Battery Park, of which the father said that the skyline of Manhattan was a miracle.  I disagreed, but I didn't say anything.)  

I did not stop at Ellis Island because it was getting later than I wanted it to be, and I knew the walk back was going to take some kind of energy!  I did take a few pictures of it, but the boat obscured most of the opportunities.  In case you didn't know, the building on Ellis Island is now a museum (I did not buy a ticket to that, although I hear you can try to trace your families immigration status there).  

Finally, we got back to Battery Park.  I look up and saw the clouds anviling out, and the OK girl in me went, "Aw, man!  There's going to be storms on the walk back."  But then I quickly realized that I was in NY, and that's not as serious as it is in OK.  (The skies were amazingly clear after I came out of the hotel later.)  So, I made my way back through Battery Park and back toward Ground Zero.  When I came close, I look to my right, and what was there?  A staircase leading to one of my places of interest...it actually made my Facebook countdown....Trinity Church.  I went up the staircase and into a really old cemetary.  I mean really old.  The closest gravestone to the staircase was very worn, but you could still see that the person died in 1770.  Still, for a graveyard, it is beautiful.  The church was pretty, too.  There's lots of pictures that I will load later.  I didn't spend a lot of time there (although it was as beautiful as any park I've ever seen) because it was getting late.  Maybe next time I can go inside and take a look in their basement to see if there are graves that lead to a huge pit under the church that has buried treasure in it.  

I came back down the stairs and took a few more steps to Ground Zero.  Took a few pics, but like I said, the site is laden with advertisements announcing the new "One World Tower" (I do NOT like that name!  Whose idea was that?!  I don't think they were Christian!)  I headed north again to find a decent connection street to Broadway - which is to the east of where I was (because surely Broadway would be MUCH better than the way I came! Snort!)

When I first hit Broadway, it was really nice.  As I walked on, I discovered that I was in Chinatown.  It happened all of a sudden.  No, I took no pictures because it was dirty.  It was awful.  I moved on as fast as I could because I thought, "Broadway will get pretty again soon."  No.  I walked smack into Soho.  For anyone that thinks Soho is great, you're wrong.  There were tons of crowds (shopping, you know), and it was just as dirty as Chinatown.  I did not like it, but I will admit that at this point, my energy was dragging.  I just wanted to get back to Union Square (where it's pretty and mostly clean).  I was fully aware (and I kept thinking that everyone else was, too) at this point that the bottom of my hair was soaked through and it was dripping down the back of my shirt.  That is disgusting, and I know it, but I say it to illustrate how hot I was.  

Union Square suddenly loomed before me like Jesus will split open the sky one day soon.  I'm not joking.  It's kind of all of a sudden.  Either that, or I was just REALLY tired.  And I asked myself, "Chipotle or McD's?"  Now, there was no way on earth that I was going to walk into Chipotle looking like I just stepped out of the Amazon.  Sorry, I picked McD's.  Don't judge me.  I just wanted something cold to drink and a TON of AC (and Chipotle is small.  I learned that last night after church.)  Finally cooled down, I headed back to the hotel where I immediately pulled off my shoes and discovered new blisters on my feet.  (Um, you would think that my running shoes would be completely appropriate foot gear for walking around town, but I think they might be old now....I'm going shoe shopping when I get home.  The ones I found here are 100.00, and I know I got mine for 55.00 back in OK.)  

Oh!  I forgot to tell you about the weird guy that stopped me in the street.  Have no fear.  He wasn't creepy....just stupid.  I'm walking up Broadway, and this guy out of no where gives me this look like, "Hello?"  I wish I could tell you how he was standing because he looked like a total moron.  I thought for a second he was looking at me, but I thought by the way he was standing that he was looking behind me.  I was wrong because as I passed, he said, "Hello?  We made eye contact a long time ago!" in that annoyed voice with a smile.  I looked at him like he was crazy.  I know I did.  And then I put him flat in his place when he stuck out his hand.  (Hahaha.  DON'T talk to me like that!)  I said, "Excuse me?"  with the same attitude he did.  I guess it was just a tactic to get me stop (and it worked).  So, he's talking to people about sponsoring kids through... well, now I don't remember.  I recognized the name, so the organization was legit.  So, he tells me that he wants just a little bit of my time.  I'm still holding the "Excuse me" look with the eyebrows UP.  My sunglasses were on, by the way, and I did not take them off.  He holds out his hand and says, "Hi.  I'm Matt."  I DID NOT take his hand, and I said, "I'm Micale." So, he starts in, and he ends up with, "Don't you think you could sponsor a child?"  And I smiled and said, "I already do."  He was surprised;  I could tell (haha).  So he asks about the organization, and he's never heard of it (that's because it's CHRISTIAN).  And so I felt better after his plan fell flat (Yes, I know.  That's hardly Christian of me, but I was tired, and the only time I was rude was when I didn't shake his hand at first).  Anyway, he let me go, and he held out his hand.  This time I shook it, but he probably wished I hadn't because my hands were so sweaty - really, it was just nasty hot today.  Hope he brought the hand sanitizer with him!  

The only words to describe how I felt when I got back to the hotel and sat down on the bed are these:  I feel like I've been at the OKAG campgrounds all day.  And as you all very well know, when it gets to that point, it's time to take a shower.  So, I did.  And that was my day.  Hope you all enjoyed it.