Macy's Parade etc....

As some of you know last year I fought the cold and people to watch my first ever live Macy's Thanksgiving Parade in NYC. I woke up very early so I could get a good spot. I froze my butt off waiting for the parade to start, but honestly I can say I did it and am glad to check it off my list.

Needless to say I wasn't going to fight the cold and people this year I was going to watch from the warmth of my apartment in Jersey. However, our office has offered to open up for employees to come watch the parade. I am so excited! They have done a lot of renovations around Herald Square to make it more pedestrian friendly. They basically have shut down all traffic in front of Macy's and built all these pedestrian medians next to the park. They say park I say median with trees, but I digress. Anyway the parade will now have to come down 34th street so it will be stopping right in front of our office. I will have a front row seat for all the festivities. I am so excited.

On a side note because I know ya'll love hearing about my NY stories, it is officially cold outside. How do I know? No its not because I had to finally bust out the hoodies, it is because the Mexican lady outside the office is no longer selling mango's and soft serve. Yes the Churros are back again. I guess it is a seasonal favorite who would of thunk it.

Speaking of food, this woman on the train today was chowing down on a burrito. Now it looked good don't get it twisted, but do you know how many germs were flowing around that wrapped up goodness. Especially because the lady next to me was coughing up a lung. Hey to each his own, but don't ask why the Swine Flu is spreading like crazy! The best part was she brought out the hand sanitizer after she was done. At least her hands were clean I guess.

A wedding and Shamu

I took a trip back to the sunshine state this past weekend for my friend Holly's wedding. I decided to make a mini vacation of the trip so my mom came down and I stayed until Tuesday.

I flew in Friday, my flight was only slightly delayed, thank goodness. I know finally no airport drama to post about. Guess I shouldn't speak too soon, I am typing this while sitting at the gate to go home.

Saturday morning I attended Holly's wedding. She was so beautiful and I got to see a lot of my girl friends from college. All though our mini reunion was short I was so happy to see everyone and catch up for a little. Of coarse I cried the entire ceremony and during Miriam's toast, but all in all it was smiles for most of the time.

The Sharp's drove down to visit on Sunday, and we all went to Sea World. My mother has been talking about how much she wants grand kids, so I told Michael and Erika to make her honorary grandma for the day. She was in charge of pushing Morgan's stroller and got designated sleeping baby watcher. Hey that is what she wants so she needs a taste of it, lord knows I'm not popping any kids out any time soon.

Sea World hasn't changed too much since the last time I visited. Most of the shows and attractions are the same, but it is totally different watching it through a 2 year old's eyes. We were on the people mover in the shark exhibit and Addison went from calling it beautiful, to spooky, then back to beautiful. Gotta love it.

After we ate our $30 sandwich and chip lunch we went on the Kraken (one of the roller coasters), twice. My mom watched the girls while Erika, Michael and I rode the roller coaster. I should of only gone once, but we did it twice in a row. I should of known I am too old for that crap. My stomach just wasn't the same for the rest of the day. I let Michael and Erika go on the other roller coaster while I took Addison to see the one armed sea turtle. She was more interested in the roller coaster that mom and dad where on, so we ended up just watching it go around and around. She said she can't wait to be big like Mommy to ride the big blue roller coaster. I'm sure Erika is still hearing about that dang roller coaster :) Hey I just entertain them while I got them, sorry if I leave a lasting impression :)

We were pretty beat after Sea World so we headed for soup and salad at Olive Garden, then hit the sheets early. The next day we were all about the outlets and Florida Mall. I actually did pretty good at the outlets, but when I hit that Florida Mall, all hell broke loose. They had a Christmas store the size of Macy's and I was in heaven. I only dropped about $60 there though, which ya'll know is good for me in a Christmas store. My aunt was in town for a hair show so we met up with her for dinner so all in all it was a family filled day for sure.

Back to reality tomorrow. It has warmed up a little bit in New York so at least I am flying into 60 degree weather and not 40 like I left. Thanks to everyone who made the trip to see me. I love and miss all ya'll already!

Only Me

Most of you know today was my birthday. Yes the big 31. So let me tell you how my day started. About 7:00 Erika and Addison called to sing me happy birthday. It was the best present ever. I finished getting ready for work and headed out. That is when all hell broke loose and my day started going down hill.

I GOT HIT BY A CAR ON MY FREAKIN' BIRTHDAY. Yes a car ran my pedestrian ass over!!!!! Now I should say that I have been close to being run over about 6 times since I have moved here. Even last week I had a brush with death as a car almost flipped trying to avoid me as I walked in the cross walk, with the right of way. Today however, I was jay walking, but anyone who has been up here knows that it is just a way of life. The light was red and the cars were stopped so I crossed out of the crosswalk between the cars. The light changed while I was half way across the street. Most drivers would of slow down, but no people from Jersey speed up as if they are trying to tell you you are in the wrong from crossing on a green light. Bam! This idiot sped up and tried to go around me, but he missed! So as I lay sprawled out in the middle of the street, who the hell gets out of the car, but a damn Chinese man. Guess that was Gods way of getting back at me for making fun of them. He barley speaks English and says to me, "why you step out in front car." I replied, "Why the hell did you speed up, you saw me trying to cross!" I guess I should be happy he even stopped. I checked myself out and overall I was just a little scrapped and bruised up, so I just got up and continued on my way to the train.

I know what all ya'll are thinking, you should of gotten his name and tag number. Trust me I got an ear full of it from work. I thought because I was jay walking I was in the wrong. Needless to say pedestrians always have the right of way. Oh well, I promise next time I get hit by a car, I'll get the drivers info!

So on top of all that, when I get on the train I realize my purse is leaking. I have to back up a little for this one. I bring Natalie from work the Tazo Chi Tea Latte concentrate from my Target. Hers in Queens stopped carrying it and she has a bad shoulder making it hard for her to carry anyway. Me being the sweet southerner I am offered to get it in Jersey and bring it into work so she wouldn't have to hurt her shoulder. Well after I got run over this morning I guess one of the boxes split open and was leaking in my purse. Needless to say I had to throw my entire purse away and now my cell phone is acting up. Not sure it was because of the accident or the Chi Tea, but a new cell phone and purse are now in my future.

So after I cleaned out my purse out and wiped down all the items in it, I decided I needed a Diet Coke to calm myself down. I got one out of the vending machine at work and went back to my desk. Next is just the icing on the cake. I go to open the can and damned if it didn't explode all over my desk! If this is how 31 is going to be I don't want it!

1 year

It is hard to believe that a year ago yesterday I became a Yankee. Oh how does time fly. I remember sitting in my apartment looking for jobs on the Internet and praying for a change. Boy did the good Lord answer.

I never would of thought in a million years I would leave the south, let alone be working in Manhattan amongst the honking horns, sirens and god awful smells. It has been an interesting transition but I have learned a lot about myself.

I learned I can survive in the snow. It is funny that when you aren't really around it you don't realize it is wet. I know that sounds dumb but I swear I just thought of white fluffy flakes falling from the sky. No one informed me that they melt, turn to ice, and turn to a nice muddy slush within a few hours.

I learned that ya'll is indeed the best word in the english vocabulary. Those that don't choose to use it don't know what they are missing! When I first moved up here I was afraid to show my southern roots and bust out ya'll as frequently as I did in the past. People didn't really know I was from the south until they heard it come out of my mouth. I was trying hard to fit in, but then decided, damn it that is who I am! You can take the girl out the south, but you can't take the south out of the girl. Now I use ya'll more than ever. I even hear a couple of co-workers saying it every now and then. I promise ya'll, I'm gonna turn these Yankees on way or another.

I learned I am more independent than I ever thought. I mean seriously how many people can move to a big city like NY, not knowing a single person. Maybe I was a little crazy or desperate for a job, but I look back now and am so proud of myself. I do admit that the city was pretty intimidating for the first couple of months. It is a whole different world up here and it can be a bit over whelming. I eventually learned that not everyone is an asshole up here. It might take you a couple of chances, but someone will eventually help you. Now don't get me wrong, they aren't going out of their way to become your next BFF, or ask you how you are, but I have found that the majority of NYers will help if you need them. You just have to be confident in your approach.

I learned I am not as directionally challenged as I thought. Now don't get me wrong I still don't know my left from my right, but I have found a way to get around using public transportation better than I ever imagined. Plus once you realize the difference between the West side and the East side, you are good. One other plus is NYC is on a grid, thank God!

I learned to call my mother everyday or she thinks I am dead in an alley some where. She is finally realizing that it is actually pretty safe up here, but I still don't think she will ever adjust to having her only child so far away. Good thing she is on my cell phone plan and we can talk for free!

I learned I have to be a Yankee and Giant fan! Now most of you know I am really only a true Gator fan, but in order to participate in the water cooler chats I am slowly adding the Yankee and Giants to the list.

I learned that Lender's bagels are not really bagels. They are considered hockey pucks up here.

I learned why people rave about NY pizza.

I learned, most importantly of all, who my true friends are. No matter the distance, they are there for me. While I am still having a hard time meeting friends outside of work, my friends back home have kept me sane. There have been moments when I questioned this whole life change, but with great words of wisdom and a slight kick in the ass, ya'll have kept me grounded and helped me see the big picture. I can't say right now that I will spend the rest of my life up here, but as for now, I wouldn't change anything about this last year. It is hard not becoming thick skinned like the rest of the people up here, and trust me I am not as easy going as I use to be. However, I try everyday to remember my southern roots and pass a little southern hospitality onto all those who pass through my world.

Odds and Ends

I know its been a while since I have posted, but work has been crazy busy. By the time I get home, getting on the computer is the last thing I want to do. Here are a few insights I have come across lately.

Deadly Mosquito's - "Shannon you could catch lime disease and die"
Seriously, in the south mosquitoes ain't no thang but a chicken wang. I mean we have them, we deal with them, and we go about our daily life. Up here they are like the plague! I was out in Queens last weekend and one got in the house. I never saw such an effort to kill a living thing. I mean it was a full family effort to kill the one little bug that came in. I asked what the big deal was and was told that mosquitoes carry all kinds of diseases and many northerners are allergic. I swear I will never understand up here. I mean I see people sitting on the sidewalk that pigeons shit on, people spit on and God knows what else. I see people purchase a pretzel from a street vendor that has been sitting out in the open for every germ on earth to soak into it. I see people dig in the trash and find what is a so called treat, but one little mosquito can be the down fall of life on earth as we know it. Gotta Love it!

Chivalry is still alive - Last week heading home on the train a gentleman actually gave me his seat at 5:00 rush hour. I was so shocked. Then I had to wonder, did he think my fat ass was pregnant or something? But no I think he was genuinely a nice guy. Then it became contagious. The man a few seats down gave his seat up for another lady. It was a row full of woman sitting on one side of the train. Praise Jesus, there are some nice gentlemen out there. Then of coarse the next morning I was brought to reality, when an elderly woman with a cane got on in the morning and not one man gave up their seat. Finally a woman got up to give her seat to the elderly lady. I guess I couldn't expect it two days in a row.

UF = "You Fuck" up here.
Now that Football season has started I have to represent on athletic Fridays at the office, so I usually wear a Gator tee. Yesterday I wore a shirt that simply said UF and had a Gator head on it. I think 4 people in the office said to me "UF what does that mean, you fuck!" Damn NYers and their attitudes. I had to laugh though because it is so typical of up here. I must admit though I am slowly spreading Gator Pride through the office. Last weekend I got Natalie to watch a little of the game and this weekend our purchasing director promised to catch some of the game against Kentucky. I had to promise to catch some of the Yankee game, but hey that is an even trade.

Jelly Apples with Coconut
Gross!!!! Now I shouldn't knock anything I haven't tried, but I think there should be candy and carmel apples only. I shouldn't be surprised they put jelly on everything up here. In the northerners defense though, southerners will slop jelly on a chicken biscuit in a minute. I guess we all have different tastes.

Suki - this one is for you

So a few of my Asian friends gave me a little crap for saying that the Asian community up here is too extra. Now when I say this I mean that they do things that just aren't necessary. For example, running across the street when you have the right of way. No one is going to hit you lady. Pushing their way thru a line of 4 people to be the first person to get on an empty train. There are plenty of seats and they train ain't going anywhere for a few minutes. And my example for today is this: now please keep in mind my train leaves every 2 minutes so if you miss one, another will be along very soon!

I followed a Asian lady from my building this morning to the train. We were both walking at a brisk pace, but once we got across the street she started running. Now mind you she is in her work clothes, including her heeled loafers. She runs for 5 seconds, then walks. Runs for 5 seconds, then walks. I was getting more tired just watching her. Every time she would run, damned if I didn't catch up with her at the light. We would walk across the street together, then she would run for 5 seconds then walk. This repeated the entire 15 minutes walk to the train. Then she ran down the stairs to wait for the train. Now lets remember, I am from the south and no matter how hard I try I will never walk as fast as these people up here, but I walked a steady pace, not breaking a sweat, and damned if we didn't both catch the same train. See what I mean, just extra!!!!

A Bi*#ch named Anna and an A#@hole named Bill

I know this post is a little late coming, but better late than never.

I flew to Ft. Lauderdale to set sail on a much needed cruise. Of coarse this trip was my normal drama with the airports, but I'm tired of blogging and sure ya'll are tired of hearing about that. I haven't been on a cruise in a few years so I decided it was time to reinstate the tradition. My Grandmother and Aunt Kim went along, so it was a girls vacation for sure.

This was the worrying sight from the deck as we headed out to sea. Tropical store Anna trying to mess up my Vacation, BITCH! Anyway as we were unpacking and getting settled in, the Cruise director made an announcement we would be headed to Nassau first, instead of last, to sail around the storm. The other port of calls would have to wait to see what the storms were going to do. So here we are setting sail on a Mystery Cruise. We would be updated daily on what port we were heading to next.

All three of us had visited Nassau several times, so we slept in a little, had a leisurely breakfast then headed to the island. I felt like I was back on Canal Street in NY. The straw market is nothing but knock offs now. Add in some Asians and you got Canal Street, island style. My Aunt had promised a few of her girl friends purses and wallets, so after we did our shopping we had to hit up Senor Frogs. Now you would think it was me that wanted to go, oh no, my Grandmother insisted on getting her yard of margarita so she could add the glass to her collection. I hope when I'm 79, I'm still downing margarita's too!

It wouldn't be my normal trip to the islands without getting a comment about my ass. Gotta love how Island men can really appreciate those who are blessed :) Good thing my Grandmother had already gone back to the ship.

Well back on the ship they announced we were going off schedule and heading to Ocho Rios, Jamaica!!! Hurricane Bill had just got upgraded, and was headed to Puerto Rico, ASSHOLE. I had already been to Ocho Rios, but neither my Aunt or Grandmother had. We were all excited anyway just to be going somewhere with sunshine. Within the hour Anna had dropped to a tropical depression and Bill turned away from Puerto Rico, so the captain changed our coarse again and we were headed back to San Juan like originally planned. I was a little bummed not to see Jamaica, but I had never been to San Juan, so I was excited at the same time.

Old San Juan is a beautiful city. Gorgeous architecture, churches, flowers, blah blah blah. It might be pretty but they got some crazy folks down there! Now I have become a little more accustom to crazy people now that I work in Manhattan, but at least up here the sidewalks are wide enough you can walk away. As you can see the sidewalks are very narrow in San Juan and the only way to pass people is to go in the street. So I see this lady coming who looks like she has some kind of skin disease, and she is having all kinds of conversations with herself. I took the risk of jumping into the street. Lord knows what her crazy ass might of done to this gringa!

Due to our Mystery Cruise we knew we were not going to make it to Antigua so we decided to do the zip line in San Juan. Unfortunately we had to take the 5:30 tour so most of our zipping was in the blackness of night, but we still had a good time. Now it was dark, but I still don't think we were actually in a "rain forest." I felt like we were just zipping through the trees in the woods, but hey they were Puerto Rican woods, so it was still an adventure.

Next was St. Thomas, UVI. This was another island we had been to before so we just went to the beach. Honestly, this is my favorite thing to do on cruises. My fat ass rented a float and floated in the ocean soaking up sun for the entire day. Needless to say I should of reapplied the sunblock, but hey no pain no gain.

Lastly we hit the British Virgin Island of Tortola. Yeah I had never heard of it before either. We decided to take a tour at this island. All of us were a little over the sun and thought it would be nice to get a little education on this port. We took a open air truck through the island seeing everything from monuments to the dedication of a traffic light. The best thing of all was the Bomba Shack, aka the nudey bar. Gotta love the high end tourist attractions!

Other highlights of the trip included our wait staff dancing to "Low" by Flo Rida, the week long joke with a man named Dick Little, and the drama with the boyfriends at the dinner table next to us. We drank, relaxed, partied and some lost money in the casino (um..no it wasn't me). All in all it was an amazing vacation and I am still living vicariously through my memories.