New York City Part III: Madison Ave Ruminations

New York City Part III: Madison Ave Ruminations This is the third and final part of my series about my New York Trip. Quick synopsis: Part I: Go see South Pacific. Part II: Annie's closed. And now onto part three. For some reason, I don't know why exactly, I always do my best thinking walking along Madison & 5th Ave. It is eerie. Thoughts that I never would have thought, seem to come into play on those two avenues. If I ever contemplated being an author, I seriously would need to write the book while walking up and down Madison and 5th. I do not know why it happens exactly, but it has been happening for years. And the worst is when I get back and WANT to write it all down, it never has the effect that I want it to. Anyway, on my walk along Madison, I was thinking of one of my favorite books, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. I actuallly like the first three books the best, but that is a whole 'nother topic, for a different day. And even though my favorite character throughout the series is Bee (typically I skip to her highlighted section while re-reading it), one of my favorite quotes/sections is said by Tibby. I don't have the books right next to me, so I don't know in which of the four books she said it, so I am paraphasing. She pretty much states how lucky she was to be born with 3 ready made friends, because she sucks at making new friends. In some ways, I completely emphasize. For the most part growing up, my best friends were literally from birth. Or preschool. When it was super easy to make friends. Or they were my parents friends children, so we kinda had to get a long. And through elem. school it was the same thing, I really was terrible at making my own friends. I never needed to. I had birthday parties to go to and things to be planned, because most of them my parents were friends with their parents. And the ones that weren't? I was friends with them since birth. And then ones that I didn't know since birth or were friends of the family? Yeah, I kinda boworred my friends' friends. If that makes any sense at all. Individually we weren't friends, but because we had someone in common, we became friendly. Unfortunately because my best friend was a year older, most of these girls were a year or two older then me. And then disaster struck. Seventh grade. This would be the year that I realized how really terrible I was at making friends. Actually, I wasn't that bad, just really, really out of practice. For someone that had built in friends her whole life, it was hard to stand on my own. Most of my friends were in different schools. My best friend was in a different school in another part of the state-and well...the friends that I "borrowed" from her, well we didn't have that much in common anymore. Lets just say it was a rude awakening. *grins* Then came 8th grade where I went to a different school, and it was better. I didn't complete suck at making friends for the most part. But I still held tightly the connections of my childhood friends. Even in high school. Many of the friends I made were because of mutual friends. The interesting thing is despite all this, I loved going away during the summer, and some of my best friends, I made during camp and those trips. I think it kinda leveled the playing field-almost like freshman year at college. Everyone needed to make friends, so it was easier. We were all in the same boat I guess. Now I regret my friends that I do have-are for the most part so spread out that it is a rarity to see them. I treasure every minute we are together though. And to think I thought this on Madison Ave...

New York City Part II: Annie's Saga

So, if you are reading Part II, I'm assuming you have already read Part I. As a quick recap of Part I: Go see South Pacific.

If you want more details, and didn't read Part I yet, what are you waiting for? Go read it!

Well due to our air conditioning breaking and me being off, I stayed over in the city. I planned it perfectly. I was going to have breakfast at my favorite restaurant (Annie's); go to the Central Park Zoo, go to Barnes and Nobles and also get a famous BLT sandwich. (Next to bagels and pizza, there is nothing like a NYC BLT).

So, I started walking to Annies, which is only a block or so from the apartment. I walked there. No Annies. So then I backtracked and thought that I may have gotten the wrong street, wrong address, something...I mean the last time I was there must have been in March. I don't have the best sense of direction, so I definitely could see forgetting where it was. I walked all around the block. Went up to 80th street. Walked all over 2nd and 3rd Ave. Nothing. So, then, not believing that it was gone, because well it was a local establishment and they just don't walk away...

I went back to the apartment. Checked the address again. I was in the right place. It was quite possible I missed it. So, I went downstairs yet again and walked back to 3rd avenue where it was supposed to be. And then it hit me. My favorite restaurant which I have been going to for over 10 years-quite possibly 15 years, has went out of business. I was flabbergasted. And devasted. I felt like a real tragedy happened.

Well of course after realizing that Annie's went out of business, I was dumbfounded, I mean where do I eat now?? Never mind that it is the Upper East Side and there are a zillion restaurants, and quite possibly many of them serve breakfast, but I just couldn't do it. I couldn't face trying a new restaurant. So I went to H&H and got a good NYC bagel. It wasn't the same. But it would do.

I remember years ago, my brother and I would flip coins to see if we would eat in his favorite restaurant (Googies) or mine (Annies). Googies closed a couple years ago-actually got renamed and all...but it isn't the same. Not too me. They did have fabulous frozen hot chocolate though. And now Annie's is gone.

For me, it is the end of an era.

New York City Trip: Part 1: South Pacific

New York City Trip Part 1: South Pacific

So, I arrived home from NYC earlier today. I decided to split this entry into three parts, for easier reading (and the extra bonus of skipping unneccessary information).

Last night, I saw the show South Pacific. My dad has been teasing me with those tickets for weeks now. He got them for my grandma for her Mother's Day gift, and there was one, single extra ticket. Finally I got to go.

Well...I have to say...there was nothing like it. We were in the theater by Lincoln Center, and it was just amazing. We were so close to the actors that you could see their microphones and well...as unattractive and yet, cool, as this was; their spit from when they were singing.

The staging and the scenery was amazing. It was just an unbelievable experience.

And due to my mom's love of theater, I think I inherited some of it. Or at least it majorly rubbed off on me. Usually I get to see a show a year on Broadway and at least one local show throughout the year. When I was younger we went to the high school shows, local shows, here and in LBI. So needless to say, I've seen a bunch of shows, however, none like this.

As my dad commented to me last night, this will be an evening that I will remember forever.

 

-Jordyn

Guilty Pleasures

Well now that I am almost done with a full week of summer vacation, my insomnia kicks in. There are some nights during the year that I just can't sleep-but try to force myself to sleep. But now, I know I don't have to go to sleep-and my body is wired.

Unfortunately, I didn't want to cause TOO much of a distraction looking for my "10 Things I Hate About You" movie-which is one movie, I usually rely on to relax myself. It is upstairssomewhere because when Patrick Verona died this past year, I drove Rich crazy with it playig weekly just like Muhleyworld days-only then Mer and I drove everyone else crazy by playing it nightly, in between our Friends bit. Actually something made me think of Friends today, but I digress. It was probably something so insignificant but so meaningful at that time...*shrugs*

Anyway, so...I put on one of my guilty pleasure movies, that I am almost embarrassed to like. I have a bunch of those movies. I am drawn to sappy, cheesy movies like a moth is drawn to a flame. Rich teases me all the time because of my love for the cheesy holiday movies that ABCFamily plays during the 25 days of Christmas. I know they are bad. I know they are sappy and completely ridiculous, but I am drawn to them...I can't help myself. (And it is not just the good ones like It's a Wonderful Life, or Miracle on 34th Street, or The Santa Clause or The Muppet Christmas Carol-but the ones that either a) have 2-bit actors/actresses or a hasbeen and is trying to reclaiming some fame.

The only holiday movie that I simply refuse to watch is The Polar Express. Mostly because that book has such a special place in my heart, that I just can't bear to watch the movie, and see how they ruined...errr changed it.

So the movie that is one of my more guilty pleasures...

Don't laugh.

 

Now and Then.

 

Completely cheesy. Completely sappy. And I need a box of tissues to get through it. But I have loved it since I was 14.

-Jordyn

Ryan Started the Fire, Desert Island and my OCD

I know.  I know. Interesting subject. And yet, all three phrases are ACTUALLY tied together. Amazing!

First off, the people that know me well, and let me preface this statement, the people that I let get to know me well, or have known me for years and years and just know me because of all the years and times they have spent with me know that I have an obsessive compulsive personality in some respects. I am for the most part a private, selective person. I use selective lightly because I let people see what I want them to see or know, and keep the rest hidden and locked up inside.

Anyway, I'm getting too ahead of myself-yes, my OCD personality. Well, when I get hooked on a tv show (The Office, Saved by the Bell, etc), movie, book or even a food or thing, it pretty much is on my mind all the time. Or most of the time. I mean, I have eaten the same food every day for breakfast (except for Passover) for an entire year! Some of my friends at college, still admit that because of me, there is no way they have forgetten every line from 10 Things I Hate About You. Even my mom teases me about my obsession. So, once I am hooked, I am hooked.

I think that was a long enough preface.

Anyway, so last night I was watching The Office (obviously) and one of my favorite episodes was on about when "Ryan started the fire" (think Billy Joel here-and yes, that song WAS in the episode). They were playing Desert Island (the second phrase in my subject) and one of the questions was what five movies would you bring with you if you were on a desert island. (Yes, they skipped over the logistics of having electricity, a DVD player and a television...but I guess that is semantics).

That is a really hard question to answer. Mostly because these would be the movies that you would watch for the rest of your life. Now, I have an obsession personality and have no problem rewatching a movie again and again, as time as shown. But it was tough to narrow it down to five.

If push comes to shove:

1. 10 Things I Hate About You.

2. One of the Spiderman's (but not Spiderman 3, that was mediocore on the Spiderman list)

3. Perhaps Grease or Beauty and the Beast (not sure which would make the cut).

4. When Harry Met Sally.

5. Maybe the Princess Bride. Not sure though.

So in reality out of five there are only 3 definites that would actually make the cut.

Listing 5 books would be an easier task. Well sort of.

1. A Little Princess (and this would be my childhood copy as well, mashed potato stains on it and all)

2. Emily of New Moon

3. One of the Harry Potter Books (toss up between Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban or Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.) What would be really great is if by the time I am ever actually ON a desert island, they have books 1-7 in a single volume. I'll be set then because theoretically, it IS only one book.

4. I would take something from Mary Higgins Clark, but decided against because I do tend to get spooked easily, and there is nothing worse then being spooked on a desert island. So...the first Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants book.

5. And last by not least: Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas. I know. I cry a little bit every time I read the book, and it breaks my heart all the time, but just the same, I love the book more each time I read it.

 

Tough questions huh? Anyone want to take a stab at answering it-although you don't necessarily have to be as long winded as I.

 

*disclaimer* My choices may change at a moments notice due to the fact that I am not on a desert island yet, so my answers may be different as the days/weeks/years progress.