Snowed In

Well, S and I ventured outdoors, but we didn't get too far. This is the snow pile on the side of the walkway outside my building.
This is the street. I would say the snow is a couple of feet deep.
Another cleared walkway. We got a cup of coffee from one corner store that was opened, but everything else is closed. We were planning on getting Indian food delivered for lunch, but they won't be able to open today. We are banking on some grocery stores opening up later....this is supposed to clear up today.

Got Big Snow

This is Brooklyn just at the beginning of the snowfall. Yesterday evening, there were piles of snow about a foot and a half deep in my neighborhood. Here is my fire escape this morning.
S and I are trying to talk ourselves into walking around outside today and checking out the snow situation. Wouldn't you know, this is my vacation day and I would have been staying home anyway.

Transit Museum

Before we knew how bad the snow was going to get, we hoofed it all the way to Brooklyn to visit the NYC Transit Museum. This is me trying out a subway car from around 1920. Afterward, we dined on buffalo wild wings and then got ourselves back to Queens where we waded through heaps of snow to get back home. Ah, New York.

Our New Christmas Eve Tradition

Fondue! We had ours with green apple and bread. It took all of 10 minutes to throw together and it was delicious, although S needs something else, like salami, in order to call it dinner.

Chinese Bakery

This is a chinese bakery in my neighborhood, Forest Hills, and they have some awesome pastry's there. My favorite translates to "Choco-nut." I got Alicia hooked on chocolate bubble tea here.

Dad and Alicia Up for a Visit

Here they are half-way across the bridge. We are on our way to pizza in Brooklyn.
They are about to have some amazing dessert in the lower east side.
Economy candy, also in the Lower East Side.

Thanks Dad and Alicia for visiting! It was great having you here!

The Great Pumpkin

Check out these guys we saw at Dean and Deluca today.

My New Commute to Jersey

I leave my place by 7:30 and head to the subway.

I get out of the subway at Bryant Park in midtown Manhattan and wait for the crosstown bus or the free ferry shuttle.
Here's the view of the city around the park.
The bus takes me to the NY ferry station on the Hudson River.
Everyone waiting in the building for their ferry to show up.
My ferry docks at slip 3.
That shiny blue building on the left is where I'm going.
Here comes my boat.
We pass by a huge cruise ship crossing the river.
Here is a view of downtown NY on the left and downtown Jersey on the right.
Getting close to shore.

Entering my building.
Here's my first stop...morning coffee.
The view of the city on the way home. It's only daylight when I leave on Fridays!
I got off the ferry shuttle in Midtown East so I could meet S for dinner.
We have a new favorite Thai restaurant and a Friday night habit of eating the drunken noodles.

A Day at the Zoo with Drew

In August I got to stay with Kurt and Debbie for a few days. On one of those days I went with Debbie and Drew to the Portland Zoo and followed Drew around on his preferred path through the exhibits.
Here he is in front of a picture of "George," his favorite monkey.

And then he spent awhile in the petting zoo, grooming little goats. It looked like he was doing a really good job, very practiced at it I guess!

It was really fun seeing Drew go through his favorite parts of the zoo and hang out with him for the day!

Any Takers?

I have plans for us when you come visit me during Thanksgiving. Here are my ideas...Brooklyn Flea Market (if you're grandma for instance...although I picture you as more of a summer visitor). It's very cool, with a ton of food items, clothes, jewelry...
Macy's Parade on Thanksgiving morning...

We will have a light breakfast and snack on hot chestnuts so we'll have plenty of room for that awesome Thanksgiving Day dinner you'll make me (if you're mom for instance)...
We will take hot coffee onto the ferry and tour the Ellis Island museum...
We will get cider donuts and hot apple cider drinks and walk around the Union Square Market...
We will see a musical, either South Pacific or West Side Story...


We will take a skating lesson in Bryant Park...come on, let's just try it...
We will have thick hot chocolates and stroll through Central Park...
Sound good?

A Week of Certificates

I can't remember if I've mentioned it before, but on Wednesdays for the last 14 weeks I've volunteered as a mentor for Streetwise Partners. It was grueling, but awesome, Streetwise is an amazing program. Last week our mentees graduated and even I got a little certificate--that was so nice! And...drum roll, please...
It's finally here!! It's official now, I'm a New York State CPA. Wow...hehehe.