So this weekend was Aubrey's last weekend in the city! It was really sad! She is now home, but I think we went out with a pretty good bang! :)
I went down Friday night because I had to take two tests REALLY early Saturday morning. When I got in on Friday, I still needed to stop and get some #2 pencils that weren't mechanical because I didn't have any. We stopped at two Duane Reade stores and NEITHER of them had pencils. They had erasers, sharpeners, etc...but no pencils. We went to Pinkberry while we were still looking for pencils and then went to the Walgreen's in Times Square. They happened to have pencils.......but no sharpeners or erasers........perfect. I already was in a bad mood because I had to take these tests in the first place and this wild goose chase was NOT helping! We went back to the Duane Reade where it all started and bought the pencil sharpener I needed. We finally got back to Aubrey and Angie's around 11 and I went to bed at 12:30am...not very smart.
I woke up at 4:30am....got out of bed at 5:15am.....to get ready for my test. I left Aubrey's at 6:20am and headed for NYU. I was walking around looking for the building...and looking lost because the numbers were ALL messed up! I got off the subway around 160...a few blocks later I saw 70 and was excited I was getting closer...60...and then all of a sudden, there was 20! I was looking for 40! I kept looking at the buildings, thinking I had missed something...looking completely lost. Some lady asked me if I was looking for some place to take a test and so I said yes! Finally someone to help me! This is what she said next,"Well you can just follow me...the SAT is right down this street..." Apparently I look like I'm 17 when I'm almost 24 years old. This is like the 3rd time I have gotten mistaken for a high school student in the past 4 months! I don't know why people think I look so young...I don't think I look like I could still be a junior in high school! Anyway, I told her I was looking for the Praxis and she pointed me in the right direction. I LOVED NYU. It is so cool...I don't even know how to explain it...the classrooms, the hallways, the hang out spots...the stair cases even! Anyway, I was supposed to be there for my first test at 7:30am (which I JUST made it...) but my test proctors were really slow and a lot of people were late, so we didn't start until 8:20am. It was a two hour, 120 multiple choice question test and I finished in an hour and 20 minutes, so had to sit there for 40 minutes doing nothing...I'm pretty sure I nodded off a few times. My next test was supposed to start at 11am, but started at 11:20am and again was a two hour test, but it was 60 multiple choice questions and 6 essay questions. This test took me the whole time and I even skipped an essay question because I knew I wouldn't have time for it : / I'm so glad my tests are over! Now I just have to wait a month for my scores.
I met Aubrey and Angie in Washington Square Park...by the arch that's in August Rush. While we were in the park, Aubrey wanted a jumping picture in front of the arch. I told her I'd take it because I have taken a lot of her jumping pictures during our expeditions through the city. I tell her to jump and then see it all in slow motion. There's a pigeon walking slowly toward her...she jumps up...the pigeon gets scared and flies away from her....away from her and toward my face. Mind you, I am completely disgusted and grossed out by pigeons. I hate them. They make me shiver just thinking about them. So, this pigeon is flying toward my face and here I am, still taking Aubrey's picture. I have a terrified expression on my face, and so does Aubrey as she lands and rushes to my rescue. She's just lucky I didn't freak out and throw her camera or something. That would have been tragic! And I still got a decent picture...so basically, I'm good even when I'm having a personal crisis.
We walk away from the park, toward our previously decided shopping locations. There is a HUGE Indian parade going on down the street toward the park. It was pretty cool, I must say! Anyway, we went shopping pretty much all day and then went to Max Brenner for some dessert before Broadway. It was pretty delicious. Chocolate isn't my favorite candy (weird, I know...) because I tend to lean toward the chewy/fruity types of candy, but Max Brenner was pretty much chocolate HEAVEN. It was insane! I ordered churros with milk chocolate, white chocolate, and raspberries for dipping and I LOVED it. So good! :)
After Max Brenner, it was time for In The Heights on Broadway with Corbin Bleu. I was actually pleasantly surprised. I was wondering if I'd like it, but I LOVED it! Not to mention, Aubrey lives IN the heights and so it reminded us a lot of where she lives/where I stay every weekend. However, we DID flirt with the theater manager trying to get him to let us meet Corbin, but he wasn't catching our subtle hints. Dang him!
Sunday we went to church and then Aubrey and I came home early to get her to the airport. I went with her in case her suitcase was too heavy and I had to take some stuff and ship it to her. Good news! It was only 50.5 pounds! :) I took a taxi to a subway system (because Aubrey telling me about taking a bus just confused me...) and then headed to the NBA store to get my little brother a Playoffs shirt like I promised him. While I am on my way (I was wheeling my mini suitcase around the entire time...ANNOYING!) it starts to rain. I get into my suitcase and get my umbrella out, so I am now rolling my suitcase with one hand, and holding an umbrella with the arm that is holding my purse. I get to where I can see the NBA store from a distance and also see a HUGE parade. It was the Puerto Rican Pride parade and I had TOTALLY forgotten about it. I had to go really far out of my way to get to the NBA store. It was ridiculous. If I hadn't been so annoyed, the parade would have been really cool. If I had three arms, I would have gotten my camera out to take some pictures because it was pretty sweet, I must admit. They had rappers, cars with hydraulics and huge rims, and Puerto Rican men with their shirts off everywhere in the pouring rain. Because of the stupid parade, when I got out of the NBA store, I was so turned around that I walked 3 AVENUE blocks in the wrong direction. By that time I was at Grand Central Station...on the OPPOSITE end of 42nd that I wanted to be...so I just hopped on a subway to get to my bus station. I was SOAKING wet and had dried pieces of paper all up and down my legs and capris. The Puerto Ricans left A LOT of paper on the ground that dissolved into smaller pieces because of the rain, and ended up on the backs of my legs and on my feet. It wasn't pleasant.
I took the 6:15pm bus back to Tuxedo...which just so happens to be the bus my "best friend" drives. (I've taken this bus like...3 times...and this bus drive ALWAYS talks to me. He probably knows my whole life story by now, and me his...whether I wanted to or not. He is QUITE the talker!) Boy was that a mistake. He was on one...seriously. He is the chattiest person EVER! Not to mention he asked me out and I didn't know what to say. Here is how our conversation went (I had one head phone in my ear and one out, so I couldn't understand him sometimes...):
Bus Driver: "So Nichole...how about a date?"
Nichole: "Umm...what?"
Bust Driver: "I didn't stutter!"
Nichole: "Sorry...my music is loud..."
[Bus Driver wastes 5 minutes talking nonsense...]
Bus Driver: "Nichole, I'm serious. Date? You know...dinner, movie, etc..." (Not so sure what the "etc." was supposed to mean, but it kind of scared me, not going to lie...)
Nichole: [While trying to quickly remember if I had previously told him I was currently unattached...] "Well...here's the thing...my friend that lives in the city actually left today...so I won't be coming around every weekend like I have been because I don't have anywhere to stay..." [I was really nervous about adding that last part because I half expected him to offer me a place to stay...ew.]
Bus Driver: "Sure, Nichole....." [To the two other passengers that were near the front] "Man, did you hear her? I just got REJECTED! Can't believe it!"
Needless to say, if I DO go in to the city this next month to hang out with Angie, I will NOT be taking the 6:15pm bus anymore. Oh, and he also told me that one of his bus driver friends told him I was "caliente." Oh perfect. Now there are two bus drivers after me! Of COURSE I attract THOSE guys...of course! What a PERFECT ending to Aubrey's last weekend in the city....if she would have been able to witness it, she would have LOVED it hahahaha! :)
PS-I went downstairs this morning to get a Nutrigrain bar for one of the babies and definitely saw a mouse dead in a trap. Eww. What an excellent start to the morning. My boss said that there were actually two...I didn't see the other because I didn't look close enough. I thought I heard a trap go off downstairs last night, but thought it was just my boss doing something downstairs. Then I went down to get the little boys something for dinner and saw ANOTHER dead mouse just laying there with its paws up in the air not in a trap. That is when I saw a HOLE...that's right, a straight up HOLE next to the dishwasher. My boss thinks that is where their "lair" is...well yeah!!! Seems obvious enough to me!!! So three down, who knows how many to go! Good thing I still have that Kleenex stuffed in that hole in my room! Eww!
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Monday, June 14, 2010
Creepy Crawlies
Okay, so naturally, we live in the woods so there are TONS of bugs around. I hate bugs. Growing up, I always made Evan kill them for me...even when he was like 5...before that, I made my mom or my dad do it. I hate having bugs in the house. I've never really had a huge problem with bugs in houses until here...I don't know how they do it, but bugs find their way in the house ALL THE TIME! I think it might be because the house is so old that there are cracks big enough everywhere...just thinking that makes me shiver! Not to mention, the little boys always want me to get the bugs and put them outside. Ha, yeah right. I grab enough toilet paper/Kleenex/paper towels so I know there is no way I will have to touch it, put it around my fingers so that I can easily smash the bug between my fingers without touching it or missing it and having it crawl on me, and then when the boys say, "Did you hurt it?" I wave my hand like I'm letting the bug go outside and then throw the paper towel away. It's pretty funny...they don't want me to hurt the bugs yet they scream like little girls when one comes near them. Just today we were cleaning up their room and there was a dead bug on one of the shelves and the 4 year old wanted me to get rid of it. I said, "Oh no...you're doing this by yourself." I had him get some toilet paper, go in to his room, and pick that bug up. He acted like it scarred him for life. However this is also the boy that asks for a new fork when he goes from eating his tomatoes to eating his avocados. I am going to turn this boy into a man yet! That's my goal!
Anyway, I don't think I ever mentioned this, but a few weeks ago when I got home from the city, my boss showed up to pick me up with a caution. She told me that the boys had seen a snake in the grass on their way back into the park on Saturday and it was now living in an aquarium outside the front door. It just so happened to be a rat snake, so there were 3 mice and 4 fish sharing it's cage with it. Apparently the boys really lobbied to have the snake in the house, but my boss had won that argument. Thank goodness...if one of those boys had opened the lid of that aquarium while I was alone in the house, I would be standing on the kitchen table until someone else got home to save me. There would be no way I would touch it...eww. So two weeks (I think) go by and I'm home alone for Memorial Day weekend. I get home Saturday morning from the city because I went to the Yankees game Friday night...I can't see the snake anywhere in it's aquarium. Perfect. I can just picture it sneaking into the house and crawling into bed with me. My boss calls like 15 minutes after I get home and so I ask her about it...she says that he likes to burrow under the dirt on hot days. After I get off the phone with her, I go look at the snake again, but can't see him still...and I can't see anywhere he could be "burrowed." I find out a week later that he actually HAD escaped that weekend in between when they left for the Hamptons on late Friday night and when I got back Saturday morning.
It has been really hot lately, so my boss put an air conditioner in my room, thank goodness! I was really confused last week though because I kept getting a TON of moths in my room. Then I realized that I am an idiot! When the air conditioner was put in, it made it so there was a crack in between my windows leading directly to the outside..naturally. I saw a moth crawling in and that is how I realized it! So I tapped the glass a bunch of times to make it fall off and then got to work. I covered the "hole" with notebook paper and tape...it looks VERY classy, to say the least! :)
Now, for my last and current dilemma...I get home from the city and my boss informs me that she found a MOUSE in our house on Saturday. Eww. I IMMEDIATELY thought of the hole in my room that I have stared at a countless number of times trying to decide if it could be, in fact, a mouse hole. I went directly to my room and shoved Kleenex into that hole. I was/am slightly worried that shoving Kleenex may be a bad idea, but it was all I could think of at the moment. So...we have mouse traps set all over the house and I am now nervous that I will be sharing my bed with a MOUSE. Gives me the shivers. I took a picture to put on here and I SWEAR as I pulled the Kleenex out to take a picture I heard little footsteps moving toward the flash. I swear to it! Eww! (The pictures are out of focus, but you should get the point...and this hole is literally 10 inches away from the side of my bed where my head is. Ugh!)
So I LOVE living here, but I HATE sharing this house with mice, ants, gross centipede looking things, moths, and possibly snakes. But I DO love looking outside my window every morning and seeing deer outside in the back yard! :)
Anyway, I don't think I ever mentioned this, but a few weeks ago when I got home from the city, my boss showed up to pick me up with a caution. She told me that the boys had seen a snake in the grass on their way back into the park on Saturday and it was now living in an aquarium outside the front door. It just so happened to be a rat snake, so there were 3 mice and 4 fish sharing it's cage with it. Apparently the boys really lobbied to have the snake in the house, but my boss had won that argument. Thank goodness...if one of those boys had opened the lid of that aquarium while I was alone in the house, I would be standing on the kitchen table until someone else got home to save me. There would be no way I would touch it...eww. So two weeks (I think) go by and I'm home alone for Memorial Day weekend. I get home Saturday morning from the city because I went to the Yankees game Friday night...I can't see the snake anywhere in it's aquarium. Perfect. I can just picture it sneaking into the house and crawling into bed with me. My boss calls like 15 minutes after I get home and so I ask her about it...she says that he likes to burrow under the dirt on hot days. After I get off the phone with her, I go look at the snake again, but can't see him still...and I can't see anywhere he could be "burrowed." I find out a week later that he actually HAD escaped that weekend in between when they left for the Hamptons on late Friday night and when I got back Saturday morning.
It has been really hot lately, so my boss put an air conditioner in my room, thank goodness! I was really confused last week though because I kept getting a TON of moths in my room. Then I realized that I am an idiot! When the air conditioner was put in, it made it so there was a crack in between my windows leading directly to the outside..naturally. I saw a moth crawling in and that is how I realized it! So I tapped the glass a bunch of times to make it fall off and then got to work. I covered the "hole" with notebook paper and tape...it looks VERY classy, to say the least! :)
Now, for my last and current dilemma...I get home from the city and my boss informs me that she found a MOUSE in our house on Saturday. Eww. I IMMEDIATELY thought of the hole in my room that I have stared at a countless number of times trying to decide if it could be, in fact, a mouse hole. I went directly to my room and shoved Kleenex into that hole. I was/am slightly worried that shoving Kleenex may be a bad idea, but it was all I could think of at the moment. So...we have mouse traps set all over the house and I am now nervous that I will be sharing my bed with a MOUSE. Gives me the shivers. I took a picture to put on here and I SWEAR as I pulled the Kleenex out to take a picture I heard little footsteps moving toward the flash. I swear to it! Eww! (The pictures are out of focus, but you should get the point...and this hole is literally 10 inches away from the side of my bed where my head is. Ugh!)
So I LOVE living here, but I HATE sharing this house with mice, ants, gross centipede looking things, moths, and possibly snakes. But I DO love looking outside my window every morning and seeing deer outside in the back yard! :)
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Tuxedo Weekend!
Last weekend I had some visitors in Tuxedo instead of the other way around! A girl from Aubrey's interior design program in Idaho is taking over her apartment when she leaves, so she came in on Tuesday and came to Tuxedo for her first weekend in New York! Angie and Aubrey came in Saturday morning. I went and picked them up and then we toured the park. I gave the tour..I'm not as good as Kristina is because I don't know the history behind everything, but I WAS able to find Whoopie Goldberg's house! :)
We went to Woodbury Commons to go shopping at the outlet mall. It is a super nice mall! However, even some of the OUTLET stores there I couldn't afford! It was intense! The weather was pretty nice to start out, but in the middle of our shopping trip, we got caught in a torrential downpour! It was ridiculous!
After shopping, we went back to my house and ate dinner and then went and saw Killers. We basically just had a relaxing night, but it was fun!
Sunday we went to church and just relaxed with the family...had a bbq after church and watched movies. It was nice! Our Tuxedo weekend was really nice and I think Aubrey and Angie really liked where I live! It is so pretty! I really really wish there were sidewalks around here so it would be easier for me to go running/walking through the park! That is the one thing that makes me sad about living here! I can't take the little boys on a walk because we'd have to be walking in the middle of the road and the same with me running! It's sad! But I still DO love it here! :)
We went to Woodbury Commons to go shopping at the outlet mall. It is a super nice mall! However, even some of the OUTLET stores there I couldn't afford! It was intense! The weather was pretty nice to start out, but in the middle of our shopping trip, we got caught in a torrential downpour! It was ridiculous!
After shopping, we went back to my house and ate dinner and then went and saw Killers. We basically just had a relaxing night, but it was fun!
Sunday we went to church and just relaxed with the family...had a bbq after church and watched movies. It was nice! Our Tuxedo weekend was really nice and I think Aubrey and Angie really liked where I live! It is so pretty! I really really wish there were sidewalks around here so it would be easier for me to go running/walking through the park! That is the one thing that makes me sad about living here! I can't take the little boys on a walk because we'd have to be walking in the middle of the road and the same with me running! It's sad! But I still DO love it here! :)
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Catching Up
Wow...now I know why I always failed at journal writing...I would forget to do it for weeks at a time and then get tired of writing novels in my journals!
So...the since the last time I wrote, of course a lot has happened because it's been so long. The weekend after when I left off, Aubrey and I did a lot of walking. We went to Radio City Music Hall, Rockefeller Plaza, back to Central Park, and the NBA Store. We ran into some guy and actually bought tickets to a comedy show that everyone is always advertising. I guess it's the place where Jerry Seinfeld, Dane Cook, etc...got discovered and where Jerry Seinfeld used to shoot the openings of his shows. We went there like 2 hours early because the guy said The Met and the other museums were right there...he made us believe you could see them...well, we walked and could NOT find them anywhere around the comedy show. We were still an hour early to the show, and we were EXHAUSTED. So...we decided to sit on the doorstep to an apartment complex at random. It was a nice looking place...everyone that passed by just thought we lived there. Even the people the live in that building passed by us on the stairs and said hello and asked how we were. The show was actually pretty funny! I guess the people that perform there have to be on TV a set amount of times a week or month or something in order to perform at that club. Most of them are on Comedy Central shows. Oh and Aubrey and I must have been looking really good this weekend because we got hit on CONSTANTLY on the street. It was obnoxious. Apparently guys in New York have absolutely no shame! Exhibit A: We walked by an ABC Studio building and some guy was outside on his cell phone and as we walked by, he was like, "Mmm...cute!" We kept walking and I heard him say, "Oh hey...Imma hafta call you right back..." As he noticed that we were not slowing down, but in fact speeding up, he said, "Alright fine...bye..." in our direction. That one was probably my favorite.
The next weekend we decided was our Coney Island weekend. We went to Coney Island on Saturday (the subway ride took FOREVER and there was a really crazy lady on our train...shouting on the phone telling somebody to let her talk to her baby or else...) expecting it to be really cool...disappointment! It was actually pretty dirty and gross. Not to mention we were not prepared for a trip to the beach at all! It was very unsuccessful! Afterward, we declared ourselves official New Yorkers because we had nothing else to do! We had done just about everything on our lists! So we went out to dinner and a movie to celebrate! :)
Last weekend was Memorial day weekend. Aubrey and I had tickets to the Yankees game on Friday and so I got off work a little early to get out there! It was so crazy! The subways were really packed, and after we got off at Yankee Stadium, everyone just started chanting and cheering! It was so fun! I was really sad that Alex Rodriguez wasn't playing...but it was a really good game to be there for! And it was fleet week, so there were hot men in uniform everywhere we looked! :) It was a lot of fun. Aubrey was going to D.C. for the weekend, so the next morning I went back to Tuxedo. I spent Saturday and Sunday all alone in this old, creepy house. I don't do well in new houses all alone, so this was a struggle for me! Especially because the doors to this house don't really lock...I mean they do, but I wouldn't bet my life that they are "break-in" proof. But don't worry...I definitely had every single door locked, window shut, etc.
Jane flew in Sunday morning and so Monday morning, I went back into the city to hang out with her and her dad!!! I love them! It was so nice to have someone that I know really well come visit me! I've missed my close friends that I've had for awhile! And I want more of them to come visit me! ;) We went shopping (or more JANE went shopping and I walked around!), went out to dinner, and went out to dessert! It was amazing!
My family has also decided that they are ALL coming to visit me and I am so excited! They are flying in on my birthday and then flying out 9 days later! They fly in on a Friday and we'll probably go out to eat for mine and my little sister's birthdays like we always do and then Saturday and Sunday we are hitting the city! I am working Monday-Thursday while my family does other things...maybe go to the Hamptons or back in to the city...whatever they want to do...and we are going to see Wicked on Broadway Wednesday night! Thursday after work we are going to drive to Palmyra, New York and hang out there all day Friday and then Saturday we are going to go see Niagara Falls! Then my family will fly out Sunday afternoon/evening. Evan and Jessica will head to Salt Lake while the rest of my family head to Seattle. I am SO excited for their visit! It is also going to come at the best time! I have never been without some family on my birthday and I'm glad I don't have to start yet! :) Plus, that will be really close to the time that I will be coming home, so I'm sure I will be starving for some family interaction! I love them! :)
Lately the 4 year old has been pretty obnoxious. The other day, we made cookies. I told him he could have one when he finished his lunch. Then, things got ugly. He said to me, "If you don't give me a cookie right now, I'm not going to eat my lunch." When I didn't back down, he said, "If you don't give me a cookie right now, I'm not going to play with you." When that didn't seem to bother me, he said, "If you don't give me a cookie right now, I'm going to push you." I don't know what it is, but he's been "threatening" me like that the last few days...and it just started. It's really weird. I don't understand it...I've taught preschool and kindergarten for school...but I haven't had any kids act the way this kid has towards me. He's been defiant lately and it's driving me crazy. Hopefully I can figure out a way to get him to LISTEN to me...otherwise I might go insane working these next 3 months!
So...the since the last time I wrote, of course a lot has happened because it's been so long. The weekend after when I left off, Aubrey and I did a lot of walking. We went to Radio City Music Hall, Rockefeller Plaza, back to Central Park, and the NBA Store. We ran into some guy and actually bought tickets to a comedy show that everyone is always advertising. I guess it's the place where Jerry Seinfeld, Dane Cook, etc...got discovered and where Jerry Seinfeld used to shoot the openings of his shows. We went there like 2 hours early because the guy said The Met and the other museums were right there...he made us believe you could see them...well, we walked and could NOT find them anywhere around the comedy show. We were still an hour early to the show, and we were EXHAUSTED. So...we decided to sit on the doorstep to an apartment complex at random. It was a nice looking place...everyone that passed by just thought we lived there. Even the people the live in that building passed by us on the stairs and said hello and asked how we were. The show was actually pretty funny! I guess the people that perform there have to be on TV a set amount of times a week or month or something in order to perform at that club. Most of them are on Comedy Central shows. Oh and Aubrey and I must have been looking really good this weekend because we got hit on CONSTANTLY on the street. It was obnoxious. Apparently guys in New York have absolutely no shame! Exhibit A: We walked by an ABC Studio building and some guy was outside on his cell phone and as we walked by, he was like, "Mmm...cute!" We kept walking and I heard him say, "Oh hey...Imma hafta call you right back..." As he noticed that we were not slowing down, but in fact speeding up, he said, "Alright fine...bye..." in our direction. That one was probably my favorite.
The next weekend we decided was our Coney Island weekend. We went to Coney Island on Saturday (the subway ride took FOREVER and there was a really crazy lady on our train...shouting on the phone telling somebody to let her talk to her baby or else...) expecting it to be really cool...disappointment! It was actually pretty dirty and gross. Not to mention we were not prepared for a trip to the beach at all! It was very unsuccessful! Afterward, we declared ourselves official New Yorkers because we had nothing else to do! We had done just about everything on our lists! So we went out to dinner and a movie to celebrate! :)
Last weekend was Memorial day weekend. Aubrey and I had tickets to the Yankees game on Friday and so I got off work a little early to get out there! It was so crazy! The subways were really packed, and after we got off at Yankee Stadium, everyone just started chanting and cheering! It was so fun! I was really sad that Alex Rodriguez wasn't playing...but it was a really good game to be there for! And it was fleet week, so there were hot men in uniform everywhere we looked! :) It was a lot of fun. Aubrey was going to D.C. for the weekend, so the next morning I went back to Tuxedo. I spent Saturday and Sunday all alone in this old, creepy house. I don't do well in new houses all alone, so this was a struggle for me! Especially because the doors to this house don't really lock...I mean they do, but I wouldn't bet my life that they are "break-in" proof. But don't worry...I definitely had every single door locked, window shut, etc.
Jane flew in Sunday morning and so Monday morning, I went back into the city to hang out with her and her dad!!! I love them! It was so nice to have someone that I know really well come visit me! I've missed my close friends that I've had for awhile! And I want more of them to come visit me! ;) We went shopping (or more JANE went shopping and I walked around!), went out to dinner, and went out to dessert! It was amazing!
My family has also decided that they are ALL coming to visit me and I am so excited! They are flying in on my birthday and then flying out 9 days later! They fly in on a Friday and we'll probably go out to eat for mine and my little sister's birthdays like we always do and then Saturday and Sunday we are hitting the city! I am working Monday-Thursday while my family does other things...maybe go to the Hamptons or back in to the city...whatever they want to do...and we are going to see Wicked on Broadway Wednesday night! Thursday after work we are going to drive to Palmyra, New York and hang out there all day Friday and then Saturday we are going to go see Niagara Falls! Then my family will fly out Sunday afternoon/evening. Evan and Jessica will head to Salt Lake while the rest of my family head to Seattle. I am SO excited for their visit! It is also going to come at the best time! I have never been without some family on my birthday and I'm glad I don't have to start yet! :) Plus, that will be really close to the time that I will be coming home, so I'm sure I will be starving for some family interaction! I love them! :)
Lately the 4 year old has been pretty obnoxious. The other day, we made cookies. I told him he could have one when he finished his lunch. Then, things got ugly. He said to me, "If you don't give me a cookie right now, I'm not going to eat my lunch." When I didn't back down, he said, "If you don't give me a cookie right now, I'm not going to play with you." When that didn't seem to bother me, he said, "If you don't give me a cookie right now, I'm going to push you." I don't know what it is, but he's been "threatening" me like that the last few days...and it just started. It's really weird. I don't understand it...I've taught preschool and kindergarten for school...but I haven't had any kids act the way this kid has towards me. He's been defiant lately and it's driving me crazy. Hopefully I can figure out a way to get him to LISTEN to me...otherwise I might go insane working these next 3 months!
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Conversations with a 4 Year Old
I have had two "meaningful" conversations with the 4 year old this week so far.
Exhibit A: (While his brother and I were coloring Pluto and Goofy respectively)
T- "Who is that?"
N- "That's Pluto...Mickey's dog."
T- "Who is that?"
N- "That's Goofy...Mickey's friend."
T- "Why does he have clothes?"
N- "Because he's Mickey's friend."
T- "Does he walk?"
N- "Yes, he does."
T- "Why doesn't he wear clothes and walk?"
N- "Because he's Mickey's pet."
T- "Why?
N- "You know...no one has any idea to be honest..."
T- "Why?"
N- "Because that's how Walt Disney wanted them to be...if you meet him in Heaven, you can ask him."
T- [Confused silence]
Exhibit B: (While his brother was off running around)
T- "Can G hear me?"
N- "I don't know if he can hear you."
T- "Why?"
N- [Being a smart alec] "Because I'm not inside his head..."
T- "Why?"
N- "Why what?"
T- "Why are you not inside his head?"
N- [Regretting my last comment] "Umm....let's see how fast we can finish this puzzle!"
I REALLY need to figure out a better way to handle these constant "why" questions because apparently incredibly curious 4 year olds don't understand sarcasm! ;)
However, despite these conversations with him, he is full of surprises. The other day I told him thank you and he said, "My pleasure," and then went on to tell me that his dad says you can either say "you're welcome" or "my pleasure" and they mean the same thing. He also always says great. "How was your nap?" "Great." "How was your lunch?" "Great." "Nichole, you're doing such a great job cutting that out!" "That [pathetic attempt at a dinosaur] looks great! You are great at drawing dinosaurs!" It is so funny, but I love it! Nothing is ever just good, it is always great! The best moment, however, has to be on Tuesday when I did something for him. I always call people "ma'am" and "sir"...just for fun. I did it in my kindergarten class, I do it in text messages, it's just something I do...so he and I have started to do it. The other day I can't remember what I did....probably brought him a drink of water or something and he said, "Thanks ma' lady." It was soooo funny! I didn't catch it at first and then I turned to look back at him thinking, "Did he REALLY just say that?" His mom said she's never heard him say that either...it was HILARIOUS and so dang cute! :)
Exhibit A: (While his brother and I were coloring Pluto and Goofy respectively)
T- "Who is that?"
N- "That's Pluto...Mickey's dog."
T- "Who is that?"
N- "That's Goofy...Mickey's friend."
T- "Why does he have clothes?"
N- "Because he's Mickey's friend."
T- "Does he walk?"
N- "Yes, he does."
T- "Why doesn't he wear clothes and walk?"
N- "Because he's Mickey's pet."
T- "Why?
N- "You know...no one has any idea to be honest..."
T- "Why?"
N- "Because that's how Walt Disney wanted them to be...if you meet him in Heaven, you can ask him."
T- [Confused silence]
Exhibit B: (While his brother was off running around)
T- "Can G hear me?"
N- "I don't know if he can hear you."
T- "Why?"
N- [Being a smart alec] "Because I'm not inside his head..."
T- "Why?"
N- "Why what?"
T- "Why are you not inside his head?"
N- [Regretting my last comment] "Umm....let's see how fast we can finish this puzzle!"
I REALLY need to figure out a better way to handle these constant "why" questions because apparently incredibly curious 4 year olds don't understand sarcasm! ;)
However, despite these conversations with him, he is full of surprises. The other day I told him thank you and he said, "My pleasure," and then went on to tell me that his dad says you can either say "you're welcome" or "my pleasure" and they mean the same thing. He also always says great. "How was your nap?" "Great." "How was your lunch?" "Great." "Nichole, you're doing such a great job cutting that out!" "That [pathetic attempt at a dinosaur] looks great! You are great at drawing dinosaurs!" It is so funny, but I love it! Nothing is ever just good, it is always great! The best moment, however, has to be on Tuesday when I did something for him. I always call people "ma'am" and "sir"...just for fun. I did it in my kindergarten class, I do it in text messages, it's just something I do...so he and I have started to do it. The other day I can't remember what I did....probably brought him a drink of water or something and he said, "Thanks ma' lady." It was soooo funny! I didn't catch it at first and then I turned to look back at him thinking, "Did he REALLY just say that?" His mom said she's never heard him say that either...it was HILARIOUS and so dang cute! :)
Monday, May 10, 2010
City Adventures, Volume 2
Oh wow. It was SUCH a good weekend! So many interesting things happened! This week went by so fast at work...I think it was because I was looking forward to this weekend!
I rode the bus in again...Aubrey and I had planned to meet near the New York Times building around 11am. I got there a little early, so I was waiting for her, people watching...what I do best! First, this lady handed me a flier for a church...the front says "You are Special." Next, this guy came up...crazy eyes, crazy walk, crazy everything...and started talking to that lady and pointing towards me and talking about a "young girl." I couldn't understand anything he was saying because I'm sure he was wasted, so I immediately took out my phone and pretended like I was deep in conversation with whoever was on the other line...which was no one. He started walking my way, slowed down as he got to me, and when he saw that I wasn't hanging up the phone or making eye contact, he kept walking. After that, this lady came up to the guy sitting next to me who was just finishing up his cigarette. In her hand, she had the bud of a cigarette that I am 98% sure she picked up off the ground, and she asked the guy for a light. He looked so disgusted and frankly, I was too.
Aubrey came and met me and then we went to her place to drop my stuff off. She lives in the ghetto. No. Joke. I'm not going to lie...I was nervous! Clutching my purse! Her apartment building made me laugh! Her apartment is really cute, but the rest of the building...not so much. Let me paint a picture for you. You walk in and there's an Indian rug in the entrance way. We first took the stairs to go up to the fourth floor. We get up there and the entrance beam to get to the apartment doors is crooked. The hallway smells like weed. And there is rap music blasting from one of the other apartments. The tri-fecta, basically. Let's just say I was incredibly excited for our sleepover at her apartment! :)
We took the elevator back downstairs. Let me just tell you that I haven't smelled something that bad in a long time. I can't even describe what it smelled like to you. Just eww. I was already scared that the elevator was going to get stuck in between floors because it was created circa 1913 and there were what looked like claw marks on the ceiling as if someone had gotten stuck once or twice before. We walked down the street to catch the subway. On one of the corners, there were a few black guys. They started talking to us...asking us if they could hang out with us for the day. We told them that we were going shopping in SoHo and they were more than welcome to join us. He said, "Nah, I got plans girl..." and then proceeded to say something about how he plans to "mess" with the "po-lice" a little and he included something about a duchess and his boy bringing him something...just as our walk light turned on, his boy showed up and so we parted ways. He also told us that if we were ever looking for him, he is always hanging out on that street corner. Aubrey and I immediately decided that we needed to be friends with him...if anything, so that we could have a bodyguard to walk us home from the subway if we're ever out after dark!
We get on the subway and ride it, and after we do, we have to walk around the station and look for our connection...it was a small trek, but as we were walking, we were entertained. There was a guy in front of us with his headphones in. Aubrey and I were talking and I was kind of looking around and then I saw his head bobbing. I didn't really think anything of it and then I saw his arms go up and back down...and then came the infamous air guitar! It was sweet...he was just walking along playing his air guitar and occasionally his air drum set. On our next subway, we get in, minding our own business. At the next stop, 6 guys squeeze in...and I mean literally SQUEEZE...there were two guys holding the doors open with all of their strength to get their last guy in. All of a sudden, they are making an announcement to everyone and wishing everyone a wonderful weekend because of Mother's Day. And then came the song. I was SO excited. This lady next to Aubrey looked disgusted and said, "Oh gosh..." and immediately turned her headphones up. I mean, I know I don't have to listen to the people on the subway every day for most of my life, but I am pretty sure if I were going to live in New York for the next 20 years, I would STILL get a kick out of the people who choose to make their living singing on the subway! I mean, how could you NOT laugh at that and enjoy it?! These guys had harmony and an original song, too! Aubrey and I had that song stuck in our head for a long while after that ride!
We got in to SoHo and finally decided which way we wanted to go in. We ran across this random guy on the sidewalk. He told us that he was in charge of getting 25 good looking girls together for a salon promotion. He said that he only had 4 certificates left. It was $60 for $400 worth of services. With this certificate, you get: an image consultation, shampoo massage, deep conditioning treatment, precision haircut, blowdry, style, and finish, color consultation, skin analysis, European mini facial, lip or eyebrow wax, manicure or 15 minute shoulder massage, complimentary beverage, 50% off your next haircut for me or a friend, and 30% off other services. It was a good deal, but we were really skeptical. I mean, this random bald guy came up to us on the street dressed in a t-shirt with a blazer over it telling us that he was a celebrity doing PR for this salon. He did NOT look like a so-called celebrity. Can you blame us for being skeptical? So he asks us if we watch Sex and the City and we say no and he says that apparently the guy that owns this salon and does the image consultation was on an episode...Fred Nardi. Who knows...anyway, we were still pretty unsure about the whole thing and I feel like he sensed it because he told Aubrey and I that he would give us both of the certificates for $30...and a $40 ticket of admission to his comedy show for free. (Score! Haha!) We felt like we could handle that...$400 worth of services for $30. Deal. Now we just need to figure out if it is real. I didn't want to get scammed out of $60, but $30 isn't horrible...plus it's a HUGE deal if it is legit! Aubrey is calling the salon tomorrow to make an appointment for two weeks from now, so we shall see!
We continue our little journey down the streets of SoHo when I spy a sheet...yes, a bed sheet...with 5-6 purses and wallets sitting out on it. There was a van near them and a guy that was looking all around, paranoid-like. Well, I've wanted a Chanel purse for about 5 years now...so bad. It just so happened that there was one sitting out on the sheet. I was positive it was a knock-off and so I asked the guy if I could look at it. He picks it up and hands it to me and I start examining it. He looks at me and then says sternly, "Keep it low! Keep it low!" Confused, I lower the bag away from my face and turn it over in my hands. Meanwhile, this guy is still looking around in all directions, which is really creeping me out. Somehow, the bag made it's way up too high again, and so the guy said again, "Keep it low! Keep it low!!!" I ask him how much it is and he said, "Umm...$65." I looked back at the purse and then he said, "I have this matching wallet too. I'll give you the wallet and the purse for $65." I look at Aubrey to see if she thinks I should do it and he takes the purse out of my hands, takes the newspaper out, and puts it in a white mesh bag and grabs for my money...all the while looking around. At this point I am POSITIVE that he stole these and he was looking around for the cops. I was so close to asking him why he was being so sketch! I didn't even tell him I would buy it, but I was buying it before I knew what was going on. I stuffed it in the bag that I had, scared that I might be arrested. This guy was making ME paranoid! I really didn't even get a super good look at my purchase because I was constantly being told by this sketchy guy to "Keep it low! Keep it low!" (Turns out I am REALLY happy with my random purchase. The wallet is so nice...I'm pretty sure they are both completely fake Chanel items...but they look legit...no misspelled words so oh well! It still looks good :) The purse's silver on the zipper pulls are a little worn...and today at church I noticed that one of the straps of my purse is broken. A piece of leather was coming up and it revealed some tape. Yes, the strap was breaking and so this guy TAPED it back together with packing tape. I mean, he could have at least used black electrical tape! Good heavens! Oh well...I think the guy that fixes all of my other purses at home can sew it together somehow...)
We went to H&M and went SHOPPING! I love that store so much! I got 3 cute shirts (professional looking because I need to improve my wardrobe for my student teaching/real teaching) and some hair things. I was expecting it to be a lot more expensive than it was. I would have been completely content getting all three shirts I got in every available color! I really wanted to go inside Scholastic (the future teacher in me) and fell in love with the store! Stephen was even having a birthday party upstairs! I really wanted to join him, but decided against it! That store seriously was so cool! I'm definitely going back sometime and looking so I can purchase a few items! We tried to go in to Louis Vuitton, but the doors were locked..? I think they saw us coming and new we wouldn't drop $1,000 on a purse and so they locked us out. We also went inside Prada...once we started looking at the price tags, we decided that we should not touch ANYTHING.
After we finished going in stores that we could not afford to buy a keychain from, we went up to Grand Central for a second to take pictures and then decided to go up to Times Square and watch Iron Man 2. By that time I was too tired to shop there and didn't want to spend any more money! On the subway to Times Square, in walks a lady with a CD player on a little trolley. She says, "Ladies and gentlemen, for your listening pleasure, I will be your subway entertainment this evening!" You can only imagine how excited I was! Then she turned on her music and she was walking up and down the subway car looking for money. People sure are crazy, but I love it! So much! Which brings me to another crazy lady...Aubrey and I saw this really ridiculously dressed man walking on the street. He stopped near us, so we decided I would stand and Aubrey would pretend to take my picture. So this lady walks up, cigarette in hand...probably on some kind of drug(s). She starts talking to Aubrey and she said, "You wan' my pictcha on yo' phone?" Aubrey politely declined (even though I'm pretty sure she secretly did) and then the lady asked if she could see the picture Aubrey took of "me." Luckily, the picture didn't turn out. This lady then proceeds to ask Aubrey and I for some cash and we say we have none. Lies! After meeting our new friend, we head to the movie theater. We had planned to see the 6:20pm showing, but when we got up to the counter, both of our cashiers told us that there was an "RPX" showing at 7pm. They said that it is comparable to an IMAX experience and that it was only about $5 more. We said sure why not. They told us that we should be back at 6pm for the show. We walk around for about 15 minutes and then head back to the theater and wait in line. We had Jambas in our purses that we had just bought, but my purse was a little crowded because it contained my contraband purse, so my Jamba was awkwardly in my purse. OF COURSE the ticket taker asked me to open my purse! Of course! I told him that I had forgotten that it was in there and that I would throw it away. Lies again! The garbage can was a ways away from him and he was too busy taking tickets, or just didn't care enough, to notice that I did not actually throw my Jamba away. I had to go to the restroom, so Aubrey waited in line for the both of us. When I got back, I saw this lady with yellow bracelets, and she had about 6 left. I asked Aubrey what that was all about and she said that the theater was giving the first 50 people in line free Iron Man 2 t-shirts. Aubrey and I were numbers 49 and 50! Sweet! The finally let us head upstairs to the theater and they gives us our shirts. We look at each other and just know that they are going to be huge...like most give-a-ways. We look at the size and it says extra large...then we open it up and it's a TINY extra large...not even a woman's extra large...comparable to in between an adult small and adult medium! We get inside the theater and find a place to sit...we sit down on THE MOST comfortable movie seats I have ever experienced! A) They were leather. B) They were tempur-pedic. C) They were the best decision Aubrey and I have made yet! Some radio announcer guy got up to introduce the theater...apparently we were the very first showing in that theater! Also, the sound system in there has 273 speakers all around...they said it is the best sound system in the nation right now! It was amazing!
After the movie, we headed back to the ghetto to sleep. By this time, we were FREEZING because the wind was blowing and it was dark. We told ourselves that we would be prepared the next time and bring jackets! We were really hoping that our friend from earlier was at his street corner, but no such luck!
Aubrey's window kind of sounds like it is WIDE OPEN even though it is completely closed. Needless to say, that night Aubrey and I fell asleep to the calming sounds of car alarms, rap music, people yelling at each other, and the gusts of wind hitting her apartment complex. So soothing! (We had such a big day that I pretty much fell right asleep anyway!)
We woke up and both of us commented on how the wind was blowing so hard all night. We got up and ready to go to church and left. While we were walking around NEITHER of us had on a jacket again and we were freezing. Apparently we hadn't learned as much from our experience the previous day as we thought we had! Going to church on a subway is just weird. Not to mention that there was NO ONE around at all on the subways we took. It was such a difference from practically going to 2nd base with someone the day before because it was such close quarters! (Mom, Dad, I'm just kidding!) Church was alright...no cute guys though, so we're going to try a different ward next time to check it out! :) We went back to Aubrey's and changed and then went back to the subway. This time we walked by our friend's street corner. There wasn't anyone out and about, so I'm going to be honest in saying that I was a little disappointed. As we were nearing the corner, we heard a noise...there was a window rolling down on a gold car. The windows were tinted pretty dark. Our friend slowly started to appear and said, "Hey girls! How was SoHo?" We told him good and that he missed out and he said, "Don't worry girls, I never forget a face!" Good or bad? You be the judge.
We went to go see the LDS Temple and walk around Lincoln Center (we looked everywhere for Juilliard and it just so happens we were literally standing directly underneath it...we figured that out AFTER we walked a few blocks looking for it) and then went to Columbus Circle and Central Park. We stayed on the west side of Central Park, so we didn't really go through it all. We did, however, have the lovely privilege of seeing the roller-skaters. There were some crazy good skaters and some, well...crazies. There was this guy skating around (did I mention he was wearing HUGE parachute pants?) with 3 plastic nalgene-type water bottles on his head...he went to get another of those and then a regular plastic water bottle, but couldn't get the 5 on his head to stay. There was this lady in a belly shirt that wasn't doing anything at all...some old guy in an entire Under Armor outfit (the pants were Under Armor SPANDEX), and there was a crazy guy with no skates just bouncing along to the music. And that was all he did. It's apparently the newest dance move...Aubrey and I are getting really good at it!
After Central Park, we went to Best Buy because we both needed new headphones and then went to catch my bus. On our way, we saw one of the Trump towers and took a picture :) We had to go back to her apartment to get all of my stuff. There was a basketball "game" going on in the middle of the street...some older guys had joined some kids that were out and about when Aubrey and I had left. I was joking around saying that we should play and I was scouting out which team I'd be on...totally joking, and I was only talking loud enough so Aubrey could hear. I was playing around with her and I said, "Who wants me?" as in on their team...then we got closer and we walked by and one of the spectators said, "Hey, beautiful..." We didn't look at him and kept on walking and then one of the guys that was playing saw us and said the exact same thing to us...needless to say, I didn't want to be on anyone's team and we started walking faster. Our friend wasn't on the street corner that he claimed to always be on, so that was a disappointment! We need protection! Anyway, the bus ride home was pretty boring...no crazies! :)
Next week we might have some friends come and visit us, so we are thinking about being HARDCORE tourists...with the I {heart} NY t-shirts and the Statue of Liberty hats and everything...which should be fun! :)
I rode the bus in again...Aubrey and I had planned to meet near the New York Times building around 11am. I got there a little early, so I was waiting for her, people watching...what I do best! First, this lady handed me a flier for a church...the front says "You are Special." Next, this guy came up...crazy eyes, crazy walk, crazy everything...and started talking to that lady and pointing towards me and talking about a "young girl." I couldn't understand anything he was saying because I'm sure he was wasted, so I immediately took out my phone and pretended like I was deep in conversation with whoever was on the other line...which was no one. He started walking my way, slowed down as he got to me, and when he saw that I wasn't hanging up the phone or making eye contact, he kept walking. After that, this lady came up to the guy sitting next to me who was just finishing up his cigarette. In her hand, she had the bud of a cigarette that I am 98% sure she picked up off the ground, and she asked the guy for a light. He looked so disgusted and frankly, I was too.
Aubrey came and met me and then we went to her place to drop my stuff off. She lives in the ghetto. No. Joke. I'm not going to lie...I was nervous! Clutching my purse! Her apartment building made me laugh! Her apartment is really cute, but the rest of the building...not so much. Let me paint a picture for you. You walk in and there's an Indian rug in the entrance way. We first took the stairs to go up to the fourth floor. We get up there and the entrance beam to get to the apartment doors is crooked. The hallway smells like weed. And there is rap music blasting from one of the other apartments. The tri-fecta, basically. Let's just say I was incredibly excited for our sleepover at her apartment! :)
We took the elevator back downstairs. Let me just tell you that I haven't smelled something that bad in a long time. I can't even describe what it smelled like to you. Just eww. I was already scared that the elevator was going to get stuck in between floors because it was created circa 1913 and there were what looked like claw marks on the ceiling as if someone had gotten stuck once or twice before. We walked down the street to catch the subway. On one of the corners, there were a few black guys. They started talking to us...asking us if they could hang out with us for the day. We told them that we were going shopping in SoHo and they were more than welcome to join us. He said, "Nah, I got plans girl..." and then proceeded to say something about how he plans to "mess" with the "po-lice" a little and he included something about a duchess and his boy bringing him something...just as our walk light turned on, his boy showed up and so we parted ways. He also told us that if we were ever looking for him, he is always hanging out on that street corner. Aubrey and I immediately decided that we needed to be friends with him...if anything, so that we could have a bodyguard to walk us home from the subway if we're ever out after dark!
We get on the subway and ride it, and after we do, we have to walk around the station and look for our connection...it was a small trek, but as we were walking, we were entertained. There was a guy in front of us with his headphones in. Aubrey and I were talking and I was kind of looking around and then I saw his head bobbing. I didn't really think anything of it and then I saw his arms go up and back down...and then came the infamous air guitar! It was sweet...he was just walking along playing his air guitar and occasionally his air drum set. On our next subway, we get in, minding our own business. At the next stop, 6 guys squeeze in...and I mean literally SQUEEZE...there were two guys holding the doors open with all of their strength to get their last guy in. All of a sudden, they are making an announcement to everyone and wishing everyone a wonderful weekend because of Mother's Day. And then came the song. I was SO excited. This lady next to Aubrey looked disgusted and said, "Oh gosh..." and immediately turned her headphones up. I mean, I know I don't have to listen to the people on the subway every day for most of my life, but I am pretty sure if I were going to live in New York for the next 20 years, I would STILL get a kick out of the people who choose to make their living singing on the subway! I mean, how could you NOT laugh at that and enjoy it?! These guys had harmony and an original song, too! Aubrey and I had that song stuck in our head for a long while after that ride!
We got in to SoHo and finally decided which way we wanted to go in. We ran across this random guy on the sidewalk. He told us that he was in charge of getting 25 good looking girls together for a salon promotion. He said that he only had 4 certificates left. It was $60 for $400 worth of services. With this certificate, you get: an image consultation, shampoo massage, deep conditioning treatment, precision haircut, blowdry, style, and finish, color consultation, skin analysis, European mini facial, lip or eyebrow wax, manicure or 15 minute shoulder massage, complimentary beverage, 50% off your next haircut for me or a friend, and 30% off other services. It was a good deal, but we were really skeptical. I mean, this random bald guy came up to us on the street dressed in a t-shirt with a blazer over it telling us that he was a celebrity doing PR for this salon. He did NOT look like a so-called celebrity. Can you blame us for being skeptical? So he asks us if we watch Sex and the City and we say no and he says that apparently the guy that owns this salon and does the image consultation was on an episode...Fred Nardi. Who knows...anyway, we were still pretty unsure about the whole thing and I feel like he sensed it because he told Aubrey and I that he would give us both of the certificates for $30...and a $40 ticket of admission to his comedy show for free. (Score! Haha!) We felt like we could handle that...$400 worth of services for $30. Deal. Now we just need to figure out if it is real. I didn't want to get scammed out of $60, but $30 isn't horrible...plus it's a HUGE deal if it is legit! Aubrey is calling the salon tomorrow to make an appointment for two weeks from now, so we shall see!
We continue our little journey down the streets of SoHo when I spy a sheet...yes, a bed sheet...with 5-6 purses and wallets sitting out on it. There was a van near them and a guy that was looking all around, paranoid-like. Well, I've wanted a Chanel purse for about 5 years now...so bad. It just so happened that there was one sitting out on the sheet. I was positive it was a knock-off and so I asked the guy if I could look at it. He picks it up and hands it to me and I start examining it. He looks at me and then says sternly, "Keep it low! Keep it low!" Confused, I lower the bag away from my face and turn it over in my hands. Meanwhile, this guy is still looking around in all directions, which is really creeping me out. Somehow, the bag made it's way up too high again, and so the guy said again, "Keep it low! Keep it low!!!" I ask him how much it is and he said, "Umm...$65." I looked back at the purse and then he said, "I have this matching wallet too. I'll give you the wallet and the purse for $65." I look at Aubrey to see if she thinks I should do it and he takes the purse out of my hands, takes the newspaper out, and puts it in a white mesh bag and grabs for my money...all the while looking around. At this point I am POSITIVE that he stole these and he was looking around for the cops. I was so close to asking him why he was being so sketch! I didn't even tell him I would buy it, but I was buying it before I knew what was going on. I stuffed it in the bag that I had, scared that I might be arrested. This guy was making ME paranoid! I really didn't even get a super good look at my purchase because I was constantly being told by this sketchy guy to "Keep it low! Keep it low!" (Turns out I am REALLY happy with my random purchase. The wallet is so nice...I'm pretty sure they are both completely fake Chanel items...but they look legit...no misspelled words so oh well! It still looks good :) The purse's silver on the zipper pulls are a little worn...and today at church I noticed that one of the straps of my purse is broken. A piece of leather was coming up and it revealed some tape. Yes, the strap was breaking and so this guy TAPED it back together with packing tape. I mean, he could have at least used black electrical tape! Good heavens! Oh well...I think the guy that fixes all of my other purses at home can sew it together somehow...)
We went to H&M and went SHOPPING! I love that store so much! I got 3 cute shirts (professional looking because I need to improve my wardrobe for my student teaching/real teaching) and some hair things. I was expecting it to be a lot more expensive than it was. I would have been completely content getting all three shirts I got in every available color! I really wanted to go inside Scholastic (the future teacher in me) and fell in love with the store! Stephen was even having a birthday party upstairs! I really wanted to join him, but decided against it! That store seriously was so cool! I'm definitely going back sometime and looking so I can purchase a few items! We tried to go in to Louis Vuitton, but the doors were locked..? I think they saw us coming and new we wouldn't drop $1,000 on a purse and so they locked us out. We also went inside Prada...once we started looking at the price tags, we decided that we should not touch ANYTHING.
After we finished going in stores that we could not afford to buy a keychain from, we went up to Grand Central for a second to take pictures and then decided to go up to Times Square and watch Iron Man 2. By that time I was too tired to shop there and didn't want to spend any more money! On the subway to Times Square, in walks a lady with a CD player on a little trolley. She says, "Ladies and gentlemen, for your listening pleasure, I will be your subway entertainment this evening!" You can only imagine how excited I was! Then she turned on her music and she was walking up and down the subway car looking for money. People sure are crazy, but I love it! So much! Which brings me to another crazy lady...Aubrey and I saw this really ridiculously dressed man walking on the street. He stopped near us, so we decided I would stand and Aubrey would pretend to take my picture. So this lady walks up, cigarette in hand...probably on some kind of drug(s). She starts talking to Aubrey and she said, "You wan' my pictcha on yo' phone?" Aubrey politely declined (even though I'm pretty sure she secretly did) and then the lady asked if she could see the picture Aubrey took of "me." Luckily, the picture didn't turn out. This lady then proceeds to ask Aubrey and I for some cash and we say we have none. Lies! After meeting our new friend, we head to the movie theater. We had planned to see the 6:20pm showing, but when we got up to the counter, both of our cashiers told us that there was an "RPX" showing at 7pm. They said that it is comparable to an IMAX experience and that it was only about $5 more. We said sure why not. They told us that we should be back at 6pm for the show. We walk around for about 15 minutes and then head back to the theater and wait in line. We had Jambas in our purses that we had just bought, but my purse was a little crowded because it contained my contraband purse, so my Jamba was awkwardly in my purse. OF COURSE the ticket taker asked me to open my purse! Of course! I told him that I had forgotten that it was in there and that I would throw it away. Lies again! The garbage can was a ways away from him and he was too busy taking tickets, or just didn't care enough, to notice that I did not actually throw my Jamba away. I had to go to the restroom, so Aubrey waited in line for the both of us. When I got back, I saw this lady with yellow bracelets, and she had about 6 left. I asked Aubrey what that was all about and she said that the theater was giving the first 50 people in line free Iron Man 2 t-shirts. Aubrey and I were numbers 49 and 50! Sweet! The finally let us head upstairs to the theater and they gives us our shirts. We look at each other and just know that they are going to be huge...like most give-a-ways. We look at the size and it says extra large...then we open it up and it's a TINY extra large...not even a woman's extra large...comparable to in between an adult small and adult medium! We get inside the theater and find a place to sit...we sit down on THE MOST comfortable movie seats I have ever experienced! A) They were leather. B) They were tempur-pedic. C) They were the best decision Aubrey and I have made yet! Some radio announcer guy got up to introduce the theater...apparently we were the very first showing in that theater! Also, the sound system in there has 273 speakers all around...they said it is the best sound system in the nation right now! It was amazing!
After the movie, we headed back to the ghetto to sleep. By this time, we were FREEZING because the wind was blowing and it was dark. We told ourselves that we would be prepared the next time and bring jackets! We were really hoping that our friend from earlier was at his street corner, but no such luck!
Aubrey's window kind of sounds like it is WIDE OPEN even though it is completely closed. Needless to say, that night Aubrey and I fell asleep to the calming sounds of car alarms, rap music, people yelling at each other, and the gusts of wind hitting her apartment complex. So soothing! (We had such a big day that I pretty much fell right asleep anyway!)
We woke up and both of us commented on how the wind was blowing so hard all night. We got up and ready to go to church and left. While we were walking around NEITHER of us had on a jacket again and we were freezing. Apparently we hadn't learned as much from our experience the previous day as we thought we had! Going to church on a subway is just weird. Not to mention that there was NO ONE around at all on the subways we took. It was such a difference from practically going to 2nd base with someone the day before because it was such close quarters! (Mom, Dad, I'm just kidding!) Church was alright...no cute guys though, so we're going to try a different ward next time to check it out! :) We went back to Aubrey's and changed and then went back to the subway. This time we walked by our friend's street corner. There wasn't anyone out and about, so I'm going to be honest in saying that I was a little disappointed. As we were nearing the corner, we heard a noise...there was a window rolling down on a gold car. The windows were tinted pretty dark. Our friend slowly started to appear and said, "Hey girls! How was SoHo?" We told him good and that he missed out and he said, "Don't worry girls, I never forget a face!" Good or bad? You be the judge.
We went to go see the LDS Temple and walk around Lincoln Center (we looked everywhere for Juilliard and it just so happens we were literally standing directly underneath it...we figured that out AFTER we walked a few blocks looking for it) and then went to Columbus Circle and Central Park. We stayed on the west side of Central Park, so we didn't really go through it all. We did, however, have the lovely privilege of seeing the roller-skaters. There were some crazy good skaters and some, well...crazies. There was this guy skating around (did I mention he was wearing HUGE parachute pants?) with 3 plastic nalgene-type water bottles on his head...he went to get another of those and then a regular plastic water bottle, but couldn't get the 5 on his head to stay. There was this lady in a belly shirt that wasn't doing anything at all...some old guy in an entire Under Armor outfit (the pants were Under Armor SPANDEX), and there was a crazy guy with no skates just bouncing along to the music. And that was all he did. It's apparently the newest dance move...Aubrey and I are getting really good at it!
I am pretty sure that this bike belongs to the gentleman with the parachute pants...the seat...or whatever that is...looks like it is made from the same material as his cray pants!
After Central Park, we went to Best Buy because we both needed new headphones and then went to catch my bus. On our way, we saw one of the Trump towers and took a picture :) We had to go back to her apartment to get all of my stuff. There was a basketball "game" going on in the middle of the street...some older guys had joined some kids that were out and about when Aubrey and I had left. I was joking around saying that we should play and I was scouting out which team I'd be on...totally joking, and I was only talking loud enough so Aubrey could hear. I was playing around with her and I said, "Who wants me?" as in on their team...then we got closer and we walked by and one of the spectators said, "Hey, beautiful..." We didn't look at him and kept on walking and then one of the guys that was playing saw us and said the exact same thing to us...needless to say, I didn't want to be on anyone's team and we started walking faster. Our friend wasn't on the street corner that he claimed to always be on, so that was a disappointment! We need protection! Anyway, the bus ride home was pretty boring...no crazies! :)
Next week we might have some friends come and visit us, so we are thinking about being HARDCORE tourists...with the I {heart} NY t-shirts and the Statue of Liberty hats and everything...which should be fun! :)
Thursday, May 6, 2010
The City!
Okay, so my second week was still good...but who knew 4 and 2 year olds could try to take advantage of you so often! Their mom keeps telling me that she loves me because I am so tough with them...I make them follow through and don't give in.
The 4 year old always says to me, "You have to..." do whatever. I look at him and say, "Are you asking me or telling me?" He says, "Telling." and I say, "Okay, how do you ask me?" and he always asks me nicely...with a please and a thank you. Lately after I say, "Are you asking me or telling me?" He has started to say, "First I was going to tell you and then I was going to ask you." Hahaha, I'm sure that's the case! He is also REALLY into the "why?" questions and it's driving me crazy because most of the time I JUST DON'T KNOW! Hahaha...just today he was writing capital "R"s and he showed me his paper and asked if he did it right. I said yes and then he said, "Why?" Hahaha, how on earth do you explain to a 4 year old that that's just how Rs are meant to be. The person who created the alphabet just decided that that is what they wanted the letter R to look like. Hahaha, my mom told me to try to direct it back to him and ask him why he thinks that. He gives me answers like, "Because I think that..." but will ask me again and then won't accept the same type of answer from me, hahaha!
The 2 year old is so cute...but has lately been on a "mommy" kick. She's been going into the city for work and he's been asking for her all the time. But when she's home, I don't know how much to let him go upstairs when he wants her and how much to keep luring him downstairs. Oh well...I'm sure she'll tell me if it's ever too much!
Anyway...last weekend I went into the city. My friend Aubrey is now living in New York for 6 weeks doing and internship and so I went to the city with her and her mom...since I REFUSED to go alone! I took the bus in at 10am Saturday morning. It was $30 round trip and my boss paid for it, which I wasn't expecting her to. I got in to the city around 11:15am and Aubrey and her mom were meeting me at Port Authority Bus Station. That place has WAY too many escalators and way too many ways to get to each floor! We were on the phone, but had NO IDEA where the other person was! It took us probably 20 minutes to find each other! That was pretty much the hardest part about our whole city experience!
When we found each other, we made our way outside. Directly in front of us when we stepped outside was the New York Times building. We walked through Times Square to get to the subway we needed to take to get down to Battery Park. We planned on coming back to Times Square early to explore before I had to come back for my bus! We were all expecting the subway ride to be way longer than it actually was. We went down to Battery Park and took a couple pictures as wee made our way to the ferry. There was a HUGE line to get on the ferry...when we went to buy tickets, they told us it would probably be an hour and a half wait in that line, in the 85 degree weather. Aubrey's mom bought a discount book which had luckily put her in the Reserve line for the Statue. The lady said that we could go with her, even though our tickets weren't Reserve. We waited in line for probably 30 minutes before we were through security and on a ferry. We walked around the statue and went to the gift store. Aubrey was talking about how she takes a "jumping picture" in about every place she has been. So we decided to do one. Pretty much I am horrible at these. It took us like 3-4 times to be in the air at the same time! We finally got it and then as we were walking back, we saw this kid that had a shirt on that said, "Been there, jumped that." Needless to say, because of our previous conversation, Aubrey really wanted a picture of this kid's shirt. It was on the back of his shirt, but he was rarely turned that way so we could see it. After following him for at least 2-3 minutes trying to get a good picture (yeah, we were pretty creepy...) Aubrey's mom went to his parents and asked if we could take a picture of his shirt. They were all for it, but the little kid was NOT. Hahaha, Aubrey got shut down...it was pretty creepy, but also pretty funny...all three of us chasing an 8 year old boy around hahaha! After we saw the Statue of Liberty, we went to Ellis Island. We were really disappointed that, unlike "Hitch" led us to believe, you can NOT ride jet skiis right up to the dock on Ellis Island, AND the whole book is NOT available to look at in the Registration Room. It took us a lot longer than we expected and we got back to Battery Park at 4:15pm.
We then walked to the World Trade Center site, but there wasn't much to see...just a lot of cranes and construction because they are building a memorial. I thought there was going to be more to look at, but oh well! However, on our walk there, we saw Wall Street and Trinity Church. And there was a "carnival" going on. At least that's what they New Yorkers said was happening. I don't know if it was what I would call a "carnival." There were no rides...just booths of food, jewelry, scarves, clothes, t-shirts, and purses. It was pretty sweet! But we were on a mission so we didn't stop and look too hard! :) It was really crazy though! Everyone was pretty much selling the EXACT same things, but everyone had a different price! It was so weird!
After that, we had made plans to go up to SoHo to check out the shopping and have dinner. We got up there and there were people EVERYWHERE. We didn't know where to start. We went in to H&M and LOVED it, but it was so crowded that I didn't feel like really SHOPPING...just looking. After that, we tried to look for a place to eat, but decided to just go back to Times Square. Aubrey and I were a little unprepared for SoHo. We're going back this weekend with lists of places we want to go to and hang out in so that we can get the full experience! I am so excited!
We went back up to Times Square and walked around this time. We got into the Times Square area around 6pm. We looked around for a bit...at all the things we wanted to do sometime. The ferris wheel in the middle of the Toys-R-Us is DEFINITELY on the list! :) We tried to go and eat at a place a cop suggested, but they were full and were only taking reservations. The Hard Rock Cafe had an hour wait, and by this time it was 6:45pm and I was supposed to be back at the bus station by 7:45pm so I could catch my bus. We stopped at a place that sold slices of pizza, salads, and sandwiches instead....mentally planning on going to the Hard Rock some other time. When we were all done eating, it was 7:30pm, so we decided to go back to the train station. We were all SO EXHAUSTED...and my feet hurt SO BAD! We sat and rested for a good 45 minutes and then my bus showed up.
The 4 year old always says to me, "You have to..." do whatever. I look at him and say, "Are you asking me or telling me?" He says, "Telling." and I say, "Okay, how do you ask me?" and he always asks me nicely...with a please and a thank you. Lately after I say, "Are you asking me or telling me?" He has started to say, "First I was going to tell you and then I was going to ask you." Hahaha, I'm sure that's the case! He is also REALLY into the "why?" questions and it's driving me crazy because most of the time I JUST DON'T KNOW! Hahaha...just today he was writing capital "R"s and he showed me his paper and asked if he did it right. I said yes and then he said, "Why?" Hahaha, how on earth do you explain to a 4 year old that that's just how Rs are meant to be. The person who created the alphabet just decided that that is what they wanted the letter R to look like. Hahaha, my mom told me to try to direct it back to him and ask him why he thinks that. He gives me answers like, "Because I think that..." but will ask me again and then won't accept the same type of answer from me, hahaha!
Tripp playing tee-ball :)
The 2 year old is so cute...but has lately been on a "mommy" kick. She's been going into the city for work and he's been asking for her all the time. But when she's home, I don't know how much to let him go upstairs when he wants her and how much to keep luring him downstairs. Oh well...I'm sure she'll tell me if it's ever too much!
Garrett wearing my sunglasses :)
Anyway...last weekend I went into the city. My friend Aubrey is now living in New York for 6 weeks doing and internship and so I went to the city with her and her mom...since I REFUSED to go alone! I took the bus in at 10am Saturday morning. It was $30 round trip and my boss paid for it, which I wasn't expecting her to. I got in to the city around 11:15am and Aubrey and her mom were meeting me at Port Authority Bus Station. That place has WAY too many escalators and way too many ways to get to each floor! We were on the phone, but had NO IDEA where the other person was! It took us probably 20 minutes to find each other! That was pretty much the hardest part about our whole city experience!
Our first New York Subway experience ever!
When we found each other, we made our way outside. Directly in front of us when we stepped outside was the New York Times building. We walked through Times Square to get to the subway we needed to take to get down to Battery Park. We planned on coming back to Times Square early to explore before I had to come back for my bus! We were all expecting the subway ride to be way longer than it actually was. We went down to Battery Park and took a couple pictures as wee made our way to the ferry. There was a HUGE line to get on the ferry...when we went to buy tickets, they told us it would probably be an hour and a half wait in that line, in the 85 degree weather. Aubrey's mom bought a discount book which had luckily put her in the Reserve line for the Statue. The lady said that we could go with her, even though our tickets weren't Reserve. We waited in line for probably 30 minutes before we were through security and on a ferry. We walked around the statue and went to the gift store. Aubrey was talking about how she takes a "jumping picture" in about every place she has been. So we decided to do one. Pretty much I am horrible at these. It took us like 3-4 times to be in the air at the same time! We finally got it and then as we were walking back, we saw this kid that had a shirt on that said, "Been there, jumped that." Needless to say, because of our previous conversation, Aubrey really wanted a picture of this kid's shirt. It was on the back of his shirt, but he was rarely turned that way so we could see it. After following him for at least 2-3 minutes trying to get a good picture (yeah, we were pretty creepy...) Aubrey's mom went to his parents and asked if we could take a picture of his shirt. They were all for it, but the little kid was NOT. Hahaha, Aubrey got shut down...it was pretty creepy, but also pretty funny...all three of us chasing an 8 year old boy around hahaha! After we saw the Statue of Liberty, we went to Ellis Island. We were really disappointed that, unlike "Hitch" led us to believe, you can NOT ride jet skiis right up to the dock on Ellis Island, AND the whole book is NOT available to look at in the Registration Room. It took us a lot longer than we expected and we got back to Battery Park at 4:15pm.
We decided we wanted to try and be "real tourists" for a picture. We also decided that one day we are going to both buy "I (heart) NY" shirts and get strings for our camera and buy the foam Lady Liberty hats and where them everywhere...however we will most likely get mugged when we do this! Hahahaha!
These masks were at the Ellis Island gift shop!
We then walked to the World Trade Center site, but there wasn't much to see...just a lot of cranes and construction because they are building a memorial. I thought there was going to be more to look at, but oh well! However, on our walk there, we saw Wall Street and Trinity Church. And there was a "carnival" going on. At least that's what they New Yorkers said was happening. I don't know if it was what I would call a "carnival." There were no rides...just booths of food, jewelry, scarves, clothes, t-shirts, and purses. It was pretty sweet! But we were on a mission so we didn't stop and look too hard! :) It was really crazy though! Everyone was pretty much selling the EXACT same things, but everyone had a different price! It was so weird!
After that, we had made plans to go up to SoHo to check out the shopping and have dinner. We got up there and there were people EVERYWHERE. We didn't know where to start. We went in to H&M and LOVED it, but it was so crowded that I didn't feel like really SHOPPING...just looking. After that, we tried to look for a place to eat, but decided to just go back to Times Square. Aubrey and I were a little unprepared for SoHo. We're going back this weekend with lists of places we want to go to and hang out in so that we can get the full experience! I am so excited!
We went back up to Times Square and walked around this time. We got into the Times Square area around 6pm. We looked around for a bit...at all the things we wanted to do sometime. The ferris wheel in the middle of the Toys-R-Us is DEFINITELY on the list! :) We tried to go and eat at a place a cop suggested, but they were full and were only taking reservations. The Hard Rock Cafe had an hour wait, and by this time it was 6:45pm and I was supposed to be back at the bus station by 7:45pm so I could catch my bus. We stopped at a place that sold slices of pizza, salads, and sandwiches instead....mentally planning on going to the Hard Rock some other time. When we were all done eating, it was 7:30pm, so we decided to go back to the train station. We were all SO EXHAUSTED...and my feet hurt SO BAD! We sat and rested for a good 45 minutes and then my bus showed up.
I saw Leonardo DiCaprio outside (his wax sculpture, anyway...) and I have LOVED him since his Growing Pains days, so I made it my goal of the day to get a picture with him! There were millions of people around him the first time we were at Times Square, but not so many the second time around so I was lucky! :)
Anyway...so I get home that night and post all of my pictures on Facebook. I wake up to a comment by my friend Stef saying that it was a good thing I wasn't there when it was being evacuated! I was SO confused, so I Googled it. Sure enough, it was evacuated because of a car bomb. My boss talked to me the next morning and told me that it was supposed to go off at 6:30pm...which is EXACTLY when I was there! Wow. How crazy! But one car bomb didn't scare me away from the city! :) I have lived through my first terrorist threat in New York...hopefully something that scary doesn't happen again!!!
I am going to the city again on Saturday and staying for Sunday and going to a singles ward with Aubrey for church! I am SO excited! We need to find cute/rich boys that will take us to the Cirque du Soleil because I have always wanted to go, but don't want to pay for it! Hahaha! :)
Sunday, April 25, 2010
The First Week
I got in Tuesday night and then "officially started" on Wednesday. The mom told me I could sleep in as much as I needed so that I could get acclimated to my new time zone! I don't really "sleep in" no matter what time zone I came from and what time zone I am in. I woke up around 8:45am because I could hear the boys downstairs. I went and showered first, because let's face it...I was gross from all of my traveling...and then I went downstairs to meet the boys! They are super cute and sweet! They were pretty shy at first, but then they started warming up to me.
The mom was with me the whole first day for the most part because she was helping me get used to things. One of the little boys has a speech therapist come on Mondays and Wednesdays for about an hour and so I hung out with the 4 year old while that was going on. We ran some errands with their mom later and then on Wednesdays they have a weekly playdate with some of their friends and these two older boys that are 13 and 15. It will be a nice little break in the middle of the week! The older boys pretty much watch the 4 year old and his friends while I walk around with the 2 year old because he's too little to do a lot of the things the older kids do. We went to this HUGE house that has these stairs...there have to be about 50 of them...that lead you down into this grassy area where they have a trampoline, a monkey bar set, and still plenty of room to run around. The people that live in the house have 3 boys...a nanny for two of them and then a caretaker for the little boy that was a week old. The caretaker and I were talking...I was asking her about her job because she was wearing scrubs and was just walking around with the little baby while the mom was inside. She said that she was hired for 2 months and she didn't know what the family was going to do after that. She didn't know if the nanny was going to take the little baby too or not. Crazy! I couldn't imagine just sitting in the house while someone else rocked my week old baby to sleep and held him while he slept! I am pretty sure the caretaker only put him down when she gave the mom the baby to feed him! Unless he was on a bottle! I don't know! I'm interested to get more information...I wonder what her hours are too! Hopefully I get more details, now that I'm thinking about it! After that, the mom I'm working for let me go rest because she thought I got up way too early that morning for the previous week I had! I pretty much hung out in my room the rest of the night...read a book and watched some TV.
The next two days, the mom was around and helping me most of the time, but she also filtered in and out running errands and working on things. One day she showed me what she was working on...Vanity Fair's Best Dressed poll! So sweet!
Thursday during the day, the boys and I saw three deer just walking through their front yard! Apparently there are even bears nearby!
Friday evening her mother came in to town and so on Saturday, they all had plans to go into the nearest town (about 20 minutes away) to run some errands. They were going to start a small herb garden in planter boxes, so we went to Home Depot for that and went to Target to pick up some random things. The place where we were is where they have the first outlet mall in the nation (from what I understand). I'm definitely going to have to go there before I leave here! It's called Woodbury Premium Outlets! I looked it up and there are some good stores!!! After that, we all had dinner together and then watched Avatar! I had never seen it because I thought it was going to be stupid, but I actually kind of liked it!
For some reason, the 2 year old was ATTACHED to me during the weekend! He was like my little shadow! It was so cute! Because of this...and the fact that the grandma is in town still on Monday...the mom told me that she's going to give me some "comp time" because she felt like I was working this weekend even though I was supposed to be "off-duty." I just didn't know what to do, ya know? I'm technically off-duty, but what do I do when the little kids come and want to play with me...I have nothing better to do! They don't bother me when I'm in my room, but I wanted to be downstairs, hanging out, helping with dinner and things...especially because the furnace is broken and so one of the rooms downstairs has a fireplace that is constantly burning and it is SO nice! I guess I just don't know how to balance it! I don't want them to keep giving me this "comp time" all the time because then I'll feel bad! I don't know! It's a weird situation...living where you work!
Sunday we went to church. I went to church with the family. I don't know if I'm going to venture out on my own on Sundays to go to church at the single's ward in the city, but maybe! Their church building is about an hour away, so it was quite the drive! But the drive was SO pretty! There are so many historic towns with old buildings. I met two girls at church that have been friends with the previous nannies. They said that it's practically mandatory for me to be friends with them. They seem really nice! After church, the mom, grandma, and I went on a little driving tour of "the park." (The gated community they live inside.) Tuxedo Park, the mom told me, is actually the first gated community in the nation. There are some really old buildings, some modern looking buildings, and some new buildings that they are building to look like they are one of the older buildings. We first went to a little lake...I'm excited for the weather to get warmer so I can take the little boys there! It's so nice and looks so fun! The clubhouse on the other lake looks so nice (we live right across the street from it) but it is SO expensive to join and so the family decided it wasn't worth it! I don't think so either! She drove me by some of the boys' friend's homes...one of which has a pool and so we might start having two playdates a week! (It's been raining for the past two days...I hope the weather gets nicer so we CAN go to the beach!) She drove me by the biggest house on the lake and then by Whoopi Goldberg's home. Of course she probably has about 4 houses, but this is one of them! It looked pretty deserted, but I'm thinking maybe as summer starts to roll around, she'll come because her house is RIGHT on the lake! We (the mom and I) are pretty sure that their house is the smallest one on the lake, but I like it. It's so cute! Right now it seems a little too small for the boys to run around in, but I think that once they get all moved in and completely settled (they've only been here for about 3 months and are waiting for some shelves and things for one of the rooms) I think it will seem much bigger! I can't even imagine how much their small home on a lake in a gated community in New York cost...not to mention some of the HUGE houses that I saw today! Good heavens!
The mom was with me the whole first day for the most part because she was helping me get used to things. One of the little boys has a speech therapist come on Mondays and Wednesdays for about an hour and so I hung out with the 4 year old while that was going on. We ran some errands with their mom later and then on Wednesdays they have a weekly playdate with some of their friends and these two older boys that are 13 and 15. It will be a nice little break in the middle of the week! The older boys pretty much watch the 4 year old and his friends while I walk around with the 2 year old because he's too little to do a lot of the things the older kids do. We went to this HUGE house that has these stairs...there have to be about 50 of them...that lead you down into this grassy area where they have a trampoline, a monkey bar set, and still plenty of room to run around. The people that live in the house have 3 boys...a nanny for two of them and then a caretaker for the little boy that was a week old. The caretaker and I were talking...I was asking her about her job because she was wearing scrubs and was just walking around with the little baby while the mom was inside. She said that she was hired for 2 months and she didn't know what the family was going to do after that. She didn't know if the nanny was going to take the little baby too or not. Crazy! I couldn't imagine just sitting in the house while someone else rocked my week old baby to sleep and held him while he slept! I am pretty sure the caretaker only put him down when she gave the mom the baby to feed him! Unless he was on a bottle! I don't know! I'm interested to get more information...I wonder what her hours are too! Hopefully I get more details, now that I'm thinking about it! After that, the mom I'm working for let me go rest because she thought I got up way too early that morning for the previous week I had! I pretty much hung out in my room the rest of the night...read a book and watched some TV.
The next two days, the mom was around and helping me most of the time, but she also filtered in and out running errands and working on things. One day she showed me what she was working on...Vanity Fair's Best Dressed poll! So sweet!
Thursday during the day, the boys and I saw three deer just walking through their front yard! Apparently there are even bears nearby!
Friday evening her mother came in to town and so on Saturday, they all had plans to go into the nearest town (about 20 minutes away) to run some errands. They were going to start a small herb garden in planter boxes, so we went to Home Depot for that and went to Target to pick up some random things. The place where we were is where they have the first outlet mall in the nation (from what I understand). I'm definitely going to have to go there before I leave here! It's called Woodbury Premium Outlets! I looked it up and there are some good stores!!! After that, we all had dinner together and then watched Avatar! I had never seen it because I thought it was going to be stupid, but I actually kind of liked it!
For some reason, the 2 year old was ATTACHED to me during the weekend! He was like my little shadow! It was so cute! Because of this...and the fact that the grandma is in town still on Monday...the mom told me that she's going to give me some "comp time" because she felt like I was working this weekend even though I was supposed to be "off-duty." I just didn't know what to do, ya know? I'm technically off-duty, but what do I do when the little kids come and want to play with me...I have nothing better to do! They don't bother me when I'm in my room, but I wanted to be downstairs, hanging out, helping with dinner and things...especially because the furnace is broken and so one of the rooms downstairs has a fireplace that is constantly burning and it is SO nice! I guess I just don't know how to balance it! I don't want them to keep giving me this "comp time" all the time because then I'll feel bad! I don't know! It's a weird situation...living where you work!
Sunday we went to church. I went to church with the family. I don't know if I'm going to venture out on my own on Sundays to go to church at the single's ward in the city, but maybe! Their church building is about an hour away, so it was quite the drive! But the drive was SO pretty! There are so many historic towns with old buildings. I met two girls at church that have been friends with the previous nannies. They said that it's practically mandatory for me to be friends with them. They seem really nice! After church, the mom, grandma, and I went on a little driving tour of "the park." (The gated community they live inside.) Tuxedo Park, the mom told me, is actually the first gated community in the nation. There are some really old buildings, some modern looking buildings, and some new buildings that they are building to look like they are one of the older buildings. We first went to a little lake...I'm excited for the weather to get warmer so I can take the little boys there! It's so nice and looks so fun! The clubhouse on the other lake looks so nice (we live right across the street from it) but it is SO expensive to join and so the family decided it wasn't worth it! I don't think so either! She drove me by some of the boys' friend's homes...one of which has a pool and so we might start having two playdates a week! (It's been raining for the past two days...I hope the weather gets nicer so we CAN go to the beach!) She drove me by the biggest house on the lake and then by Whoopi Goldberg's home. Of course she probably has about 4 houses, but this is one of them! It looked pretty deserted, but I'm thinking maybe as summer starts to roll around, she'll come because her house is RIGHT on the lake! We (the mom and I) are pretty sure that their house is the smallest one on the lake, but I like it. It's so cute! Right now it seems a little too small for the boys to run around in, but I think that once they get all moved in and completely settled (they've only been here for about 3 months and are waiting for some shelves and things for one of the rooms) I think it will seem much bigger! I can't even imagine how much their small home on a lake in a gated community in New York cost...not to mention some of the HUGE houses that I saw today! Good heavens!
Thursday, April 22, 2010
The Trip
I couldn't be in New York when they needed me because I had to coach a volleyball tournament in Reno this past weekend. Because of this, I decided that I wanted to go home for a few days before I left for Reno and New York. This is how the longest trip of my life started and ended!
I graduated from college in Rexburg, Idaho on the 10th of April. We left around 3pm and got into my uncle's house in Dayton around 11pm. Sunday morning we were back on the road around 11am and got home around 5pm. I was at home Sunday evening, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday morning finishing up packing, getting some stuff ready to ship, finishing up shopping, and getting my hair and nails done (of course!)
Wednesday around 3pm, my sister Jessica and I left for Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and got there around 10pm. We slept at my grandparent's house there and left at about 10:30am the next morning. We arrived in Rexburg, ran a few errands, and then were finally back at my townhouse around 7pm. I started cleaning (or procrastinating the cleaning as much as possible) and then went to sleep around midnight. We got up around 7am the next morning and headed to The Ridge to move all of my sister's things into her new apartment. We finished there around 9:30am and were out of town and back on the road by 10am.
We drove to Provo to pick up my other little sister, Melissa. While in the narrowest part of the Provo area construction, my sister's car started to die. We were stuck in almost rush hour traffic in the middle of a construction zone and her car was slowing down by the second. I finally decided I would just shut it off and then turn it back on. For some reason, it started going again. We then determined that it was only when we slowed down to speeds lower than 25 that her car decided to die. So we ended up driving all the way through Provo and to the mechanic during school zone times. I think we ended up turning her car off and back on at least 30 times...and we took a corner probably at 15mph because I didn't want to slow down and be stuck in the middle of a busy intersection! It was quite the disaster! Melissa came and picked us up at the mechanic, we ran some errands, and then we took her car to Reno instead.
We got into Reno and into our hotel around 11:30pm and I crashed...but not for long because I had to leave the hotel for the tournament at 6:45am. We had a lot of fun in Reno...or at least I did...coaching and hanging out! It was pretty scary, I'm not going to lie...but we went out and had a good time! We went to see "How to Train Your Dragon" and all loved it, and we went and played at Circus Circus and loved it! We all went down there with $20 and weren't going to spend any more than that! We stopped at the game where you squirt water into the clown's mouth to blow up and pop a balloon. There was a guy sitting next to me and then another guy wandering behind us yelling saying "number 14's a winner" over and over again. He started talking to us/flirting with us and we all kind of ignored it. We played once and none of us won, Melissa won the second time, and then those two guys gave Jess, Melissa, and I money to play for a third time and I won. Then they said that they wanted to have a Skeeball tournament with us. I warned them that I was really good, but I think they didn't believe me. We had our money out and ready to go, but the guy came back with money for each of us. They paid for us to play 3 or 4 games of Skeeball. The last game, somehow I got a score of 400 and so I had to lug around a HUGE teddy bear the rest of the time we were at Circus Circus! We all came away with a ton of stuffed animals, so it was a pretty good haul for each of us only spending about $20 ;)
After the tournament was over Monday morning, we left for Provo around 11am and got into Provo around 8pm. Melissa and I stayed in Provo and Jess left for Rexburg after we picked up her car from the mechanics! (Thank goodness it was a small problem with her car...nothing big at all!) Melissa and I went back to her apartment and I tried to get all of my stuff back into my suitcases. I planned on taking a carry-on suitcase, a computer bag, and one medium-sized checked suitcase. For some reason, I could NOT get my stuff situated in my suitcases and I was really stressed out about it! I was just freaking out under the stress of a new situation and the nervousness I was feeling...not to mention my long week or two that I just had!
Anyway, I slept at my friend Katie's that night and then my friend Jane took me to the airport the next morning at 8:30am. Being the idiot that I am, I thought I needed to take something out of my bag that morning to use it, but then I couldn't put it all back in! I was literally standing on the sidewalk outside of the airport with my suitcase wide open handing Jane things to take back to my sister so my mom could ship them! It was a disaster! I got in to the airport, printed out my boarding pass and then went up to check my suitcase. The scale read 52 pounds and I was about to faint. The lady at the counter must have sensed that I was having an incredibly rough time because she let me get away with it without charging me extra! I got through security without any problems...which I was really surprised with because I usually forget about something that had been buried in the bottom of my bag for months! (I went through security with a legit pocket knife before without being stopped...) I went to my gate and got there 5 minutes before we boarded. I was already hot and exhausted from the night/morning I had/was having, and I'm not a really good flier anyway, so I was pretty nervous. We get into the plane and I am in row 42 and in the middle seat! Not a good combination! There was a crying baby behind me, someone forgot to put on their deodorant that morning, there was a lot of turbulence, I was sitting next to two armrest hogs, and it was 90 degrees inside the airplane. All of these things do not combine for a smooth flight for myself. I really thought it was going to be the first flight I would get sick on! I calmed down just before it was time to land...just in time for me to feel sick again. I hate that feeling like your body is falling but your stomach is staying right where it is! I got off the flight in Atlanta and went to my last gate and got there about 10 minutes before we boarded. This flight was so much smoother, despite the fact that we were delayed 20 minutes because of a storm that was coming in! You never would have been able to tell! It was a small plane...weird, but I like these small planes so much better! I think it's because I'm used to them! I've flown on A LOT more small planes! This flight immediately started off better...and WAY cooler. I even got goosebumps at one point! Haha! I sat by a retired New York firefighter who was coming home from the Oklahoma City bombing anniversary with a bunch of his buddies. They were all on a different flight because he was the only one from upstate New York. He was fun to talk to and even said at one point,"You can share the arm rest with me! Don't be shy!" He was super nice! There was a crying baby on this flight at first, but she stopped as soon as we were in the air and didn't start again! :) There was a lady next to me that had her DOG in her carry-on under her seat! I didn't even notice until we started to land and she reached down to pet it and accidentally hit it's collar! It was crazy!
The mom that I am working for picked me up at the airport. It was really good to finally meet her! When we got back to her house, the boys were already in bed, so I didn't get to meet them until the morning. She gave me the tour of her house (which is so cute) and then I ate a little something and went to bed in my room! :) I was so relieved to know that my traveling was over for awhile!!! Finally!
I graduated from college in Rexburg, Idaho on the 10th of April. We left around 3pm and got into my uncle's house in Dayton around 11pm. Sunday morning we were back on the road around 11am and got home around 5pm. I was at home Sunday evening, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday morning finishing up packing, getting some stuff ready to ship, finishing up shopping, and getting my hair and nails done (of course!)
Wednesday around 3pm, my sister Jessica and I left for Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and got there around 10pm. We slept at my grandparent's house there and left at about 10:30am the next morning. We arrived in Rexburg, ran a few errands, and then were finally back at my townhouse around 7pm. I started cleaning (or procrastinating the cleaning as much as possible) and then went to sleep around midnight. We got up around 7am the next morning and headed to The Ridge to move all of my sister's things into her new apartment. We finished there around 9:30am and were out of town and back on the road by 10am.
We drove to Provo to pick up my other little sister, Melissa. While in the narrowest part of the Provo area construction, my sister's car started to die. We were stuck in almost rush hour traffic in the middle of a construction zone and her car was slowing down by the second. I finally decided I would just shut it off and then turn it back on. For some reason, it started going again. We then determined that it was only when we slowed down to speeds lower than 25 that her car decided to die. So we ended up driving all the way through Provo and to the mechanic during school zone times. I think we ended up turning her car off and back on at least 30 times...and we took a corner probably at 15mph because I didn't want to slow down and be stuck in the middle of a busy intersection! It was quite the disaster! Melissa came and picked us up at the mechanic, we ran some errands, and then we took her car to Reno instead.
We got into Reno and into our hotel around 11:30pm and I crashed...but not for long because I had to leave the hotel for the tournament at 6:45am. We had a lot of fun in Reno...or at least I did...coaching and hanging out! It was pretty scary, I'm not going to lie...but we went out and had a good time! We went to see "How to Train Your Dragon" and all loved it, and we went and played at Circus Circus and loved it! We all went down there with $20 and weren't going to spend any more than that! We stopped at the game where you squirt water into the clown's mouth to blow up and pop a balloon. There was a guy sitting next to me and then another guy wandering behind us yelling saying "number 14's a winner" over and over again. He started talking to us/flirting with us and we all kind of ignored it. We played once and none of us won, Melissa won the second time, and then those two guys gave Jess, Melissa, and I money to play for a third time and I won. Then they said that they wanted to have a Skeeball tournament with us. I warned them that I was really good, but I think they didn't believe me. We had our money out and ready to go, but the guy came back with money for each of us. They paid for us to play 3 or 4 games of Skeeball. The last game, somehow I got a score of 400 and so I had to lug around a HUGE teddy bear the rest of the time we were at Circus Circus! We all came away with a ton of stuffed animals, so it was a pretty good haul for each of us only spending about $20 ;)
After the tournament was over Monday morning, we left for Provo around 11am and got into Provo around 8pm. Melissa and I stayed in Provo and Jess left for Rexburg after we picked up her car from the mechanics! (Thank goodness it was a small problem with her car...nothing big at all!) Melissa and I went back to her apartment and I tried to get all of my stuff back into my suitcases. I planned on taking a carry-on suitcase, a computer bag, and one medium-sized checked suitcase. For some reason, I could NOT get my stuff situated in my suitcases and I was really stressed out about it! I was just freaking out under the stress of a new situation and the nervousness I was feeling...not to mention my long week or two that I just had!
Anyway, I slept at my friend Katie's that night and then my friend Jane took me to the airport the next morning at 8:30am. Being the idiot that I am, I thought I needed to take something out of my bag that morning to use it, but then I couldn't put it all back in! I was literally standing on the sidewalk outside of the airport with my suitcase wide open handing Jane things to take back to my sister so my mom could ship them! It was a disaster! I got in to the airport, printed out my boarding pass and then went up to check my suitcase. The scale read 52 pounds and I was about to faint. The lady at the counter must have sensed that I was having an incredibly rough time because she let me get away with it without charging me extra! I got through security without any problems...which I was really surprised with because I usually forget about something that had been buried in the bottom of my bag for months! (I went through security with a legit pocket knife before without being stopped...) I went to my gate and got there 5 minutes before we boarded. I was already hot and exhausted from the night/morning I had/was having, and I'm not a really good flier anyway, so I was pretty nervous. We get into the plane and I am in row 42 and in the middle seat! Not a good combination! There was a crying baby behind me, someone forgot to put on their deodorant that morning, there was a lot of turbulence, I was sitting next to two armrest hogs, and it was 90 degrees inside the airplane. All of these things do not combine for a smooth flight for myself. I really thought it was going to be the first flight I would get sick on! I calmed down just before it was time to land...just in time for me to feel sick again. I hate that feeling like your body is falling but your stomach is staying right where it is! I got off the flight in Atlanta and went to my last gate and got there about 10 minutes before we boarded. This flight was so much smoother, despite the fact that we were delayed 20 minutes because of a storm that was coming in! You never would have been able to tell! It was a small plane...weird, but I like these small planes so much better! I think it's because I'm used to them! I've flown on A LOT more small planes! This flight immediately started off better...and WAY cooler. I even got goosebumps at one point! Haha! I sat by a retired New York firefighter who was coming home from the Oklahoma City bombing anniversary with a bunch of his buddies. They were all on a different flight because he was the only one from upstate New York. He was fun to talk to and even said at one point,"You can share the arm rest with me! Don't be shy!" He was super nice! There was a crying baby on this flight at first, but she stopped as soon as we were in the air and didn't start again! :) There was a lady next to me that had her DOG in her carry-on under her seat! I didn't even notice until we started to land and she reached down to pet it and accidentally hit it's collar! It was crazy!
The mom that I am working for picked me up at the airport. It was really good to finally meet her! When we got back to her house, the boys were already in bed, so I didn't get to meet them until the morning. She gave me the tour of her house (which is so cute) and then I ate a little something and went to bed in my room! :) I was so relieved to know that my traveling was over for awhile!!! Finally!
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
The Job
I have been asked by a lot of my friends to create a blog about my job for the summer and so here it is! I've never created a blog before...and I don't read many...so this is an experiment for me!
Anyway, for people who don't know, I am a nanny in New York for the summer and this is how I got the job. While I was at BYU-Idaho, we had an email come through to all the elementary education/early childhood education majors. A family in New York was looking for a nanny. The job description sounded really good and since I had been a nanny before and didn't have a job lined up for the summer, I thought that it would be fun. I applied about a week after the original email was sent because I didn't see it right away and I just forgot about it. I really didn't think I would even be considered. It had been a week since I sent the initial email to see if the job was still open, and then almost another week after I sent her my resume. She called me and we talked for a little bit and then she told me that I was in the top 7 of about 75 people on a Wednesday afternoon. The next day I was leaving for Spokane, but she said that she would call maybe Friday, but probably Monday to let me know whether I got the job or not. She still had some people to call and it didn't sound like she was very close to making her decision. However, she called me the next day while I was on my way to Spokane to offer me the job. I took it without hesitation.
Anyway, for people who don't know, I am a nanny in New York for the summer and this is how I got the job. While I was at BYU-Idaho, we had an email come through to all the elementary education/early childhood education majors. A family in New York was looking for a nanny. The job description sounded really good and since I had been a nanny before and didn't have a job lined up for the summer, I thought that it would be fun. I applied about a week after the original email was sent because I didn't see it right away and I just forgot about it. I really didn't think I would even be considered. It had been a week since I sent the initial email to see if the job was still open, and then almost another week after I sent her my resume. She called me and we talked for a little bit and then she told me that I was in the top 7 of about 75 people on a Wednesday afternoon. The next day I was leaving for Spokane, but she said that she would call maybe Friday, but probably Monday to let me know whether I got the job or not. She still had some people to call and it didn't sound like she was very close to making her decision. However, she called me the next day while I was on my way to Spokane to offer me the job. I took it without hesitation.
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