Red Rocks in New York City

So as I said before, we are now comfortably relocated to Pennsylvania for a few days.  It is so peaceful and quiet here that at first the absence of noise was noticeable.  That and the updated plumbing, working AC, real yard to play in, two awesome playmates for Asher, and a very soft bed with soft, clean linens - tears of gratitude! - have been soothing to our frayed New Jersey/New York City souls.   And it’s really wonderful to rub shoulders with great friends again too.  We’ve been friends with this particular couple since the ol’ biology rat-lab days… when was that??? 1998 or so I think.  They just moved out here a year ago and we’ve missed them a lot.

   However, it did take a very long time to get all of these photos loaded up on our host’s wi-fi, so I can’t be posting too long.  The first set of pics is of a return trip to the Staten Island Ferry with our recent family visitors.  Asher was REALLY happy to show Sooki how the ferry works and was brave enough to stand on the outside deck on the way back up at the very front.  He still wants to be a ferry boat captain.  Then we went to Times Square, which didn’t manage to rouse my brother.  I’m convinced that if Times Square were in a Playstation 3 game though, he MIGHT consider it cool.  The next day they (mom and Joe) took a trip to Ellis Island while Asher and I explored the Chelsea Market and Chelsea in general.  This is definitely my favorite part of town just because of its sheer quirky variety.  I love the different markets, streets, buildings and people.  I was actually lectured by a hand-in-hand couple of gay men for letting Asher get too far ahead of me.  “You gonna let him get away?”… “Well… umm… I was kind of hoping to just yell at him and hopefully he will slow down…”  “Good luck sister.”… uh huh.  For the record he was a measily fifty feet in front of me.  New Yorkers are nosy parkers………. or maybe they just know something I don’t know.  Is a child likely to be abducted if he’s fifty feet in front of his mother here??? Geees… maybe this town IS too rough for me.

  The following day was dedicated to the Empire State Building and Wall Street.  My mom offered to pay my way and it was an offer I couldn’t refuse, so I went without Bryan who was wrapping up the painting class (sorry Bry!).  The lines were daunting, but after an hour and some odd minutes waiting to do a security check, buy tickets and ride elevators we made it up to the 86th floor.  Even if you’re expecting it to be awesome, it’ll still take your breath away.  Your subconscious (at least my subconscious was) will flash alarm bells as you step out onto the observation deck, which is open air and enclosed by a loosely meshed fence.  “This can’t be right.  I don’t care if the ESB has been here for a hundred plus years and millions of people do this every year…. it can’t be right!!!”  And I don’t even have a problem with heights.  But after taking a few tentative steps and recognizing some of the outlying landscape, it gets a little easier.  Just don’t look up at the pinnacle if the clouds are breezing by - your brain says the building is tipping over and that is just freaky.  Later we went to the glass enclosed 102nd floor, which was also very neat, but probably not worth the extra money except to say that you did indeed go to the top.  There are gratings at this level outside the glass encasement that look as though they are designed to hold a person.  God help that person, whoever he is.

Here are those pics as promised!

And finally, congratulations to my sister Cathy (hope you don’t mind if I write this to the Internet), who has made an announcement: Evy is going to be a big sister!!! Yay yayayayyaya!!!!! I’m so excited for you my dear and Mike.  I can only imagine taking a trip to Germany during the first trimester.  Wow.  Girl, you are made of sterner stuff than most.  Bryan and I are so happy for you two and can’t wait to see you later this month.  Hooray!