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Well it's taken me awhile to actually get around to writing it.

But here it is.

My 300th post. Which is nice because I love even numbers - I would have actually written an extra one just to get to 300 because 299 just doesn't sit right with me.

Also my last post for this blog.

Anyway I've been back just over two weeks (how the heck that happened, I have no idea) and so far my thought pattern goes something like this.

"GET ME THE F@*# OUT OF HERE!"

Alright that's probably a bit harsh, although at times fairly accurate. Sometimes the truth can be ugly. And yes, sometimes I feel it in capitals. It's like I'm living some weird ass double life. One here in suburbia with my family and friends, not to mention work (shitty but essential), driving a car and remnants of my past floating by me (much of which will be remedied by good old ebay or the trading post). And then my other life in Manhattan with new and old friends along with de-cluttering, the Y, the subway and current episodes of 'Bones'.

They're so completely removed from each other that I can't seem to find a way to connect them.

I realise that my year away had lots of different elements but as the last place I stayed (apart from a quick stop off in San Diego) was Manhattan and the fact that collectively I spent about four months there, it's the part that has had left the greatest impression on me. And the part that has ultimately given me some direction and changed my plans for the next year or so.

Alright it didn't really change them. Because I had no plan past the end of this trip. So it actually provided me with a plan (fingers crossed) that started from Fiona and Sybil both separately asking me "Do you wish you could stay here longer?"

Well Fiona actually asked "Don't you wish you could stay here longer?"

Tiny difference. Huge difference.

So I turned that around in my brain for awhile to see what it would feel like and they eventually dragged an answer out of me.

Yes.

I'm sure I was a lot more vague about it than that. I know I was. But the long and the short of it is - it's true. Hence, future plans are evolving.

So here are some things I miss about the U.S.

1. Friends (have to put that at the top or I'd be in trouble).

2. Manhattan.

3. Starbucks on every corner.

4. French vanilla latte mix (I did bring three containers home but they won't last long as I'm already onto my second).

5. Being able to turn right on a red light.

Things that are great about being back home.

1. Family and friends.

2. The metric system.

3. The smallest coin being 5 cents.

4. Being able to buy fresh pumpkin (ie - not out of a tin - who even knew you could get it in a tin?) at any time of year.

5. Plain AND self-raising flour.

There's more for both list but this is just a little taste.

So, was there a lucky hour at the world's end?

Well of course there was.

I'm just not going to tell you what it was. But if you read my blog then you already know!

CALIFORNIA - SAN DIEGO

I actually think I had a bit of jetlag yesterday. Pretty sad considering there is only a three hour time difference between the east and west coast. I hope that's not an indication of what I will be like for the big trip home.

Anyway today I feel much better and Kristen and I wandered around the farmer's market that is just over the road from their apartment. It was another gorgeous day although a leetle bit more overcast than yesterday. We both bought a wrap around skirt.

I really have no idea what's wrong with me. I thought my shopping "thing" had ended.

Apparently not.

I need to stop or I won't have any money left for my trip to DFO when I get home that I have promised Nicole. You'd think she'd won tatts she was that excited when I said I would go! I would quote her here but the kids might read this and the language wasn't really appropriate for minors.

For lunch we headed down to a town called Ocean Beach and met a few of Kristen's friends at a place called "Hodads." It's a burger place that is so popular there is a queue down the street. I have decided that this is my last one for awhile. I am going to do a detox when I get home - no red or white meat for me. So I'll be eating like a vegetarian (scary prospect I know) although I will still be eating fish. I can hear you all groaning as you read this. But you'll just have to get over it.

After lunch we walked around looking at the shops.

Ummmm .......................... I did buy a t-shirt but it was under $3 so DFO is still a goer.

Oh yeah, we also stopped off at some other shops before we came home and I bought a mini hair straightener (very inexpensive too).

What am I doing with a straightener with such short hair, I hear you ask? Well it's a teeny tiny one and I'm going to use it to flick up the ends of my hair. I'm not so good with high maintenance hair as you all know, so we'll see how long this lasts.

CALIFORNIA - SAN DIEGO

The shuttle bus to the airport got to the apartment early so there was no time for tearful farewells even though I told them I wanted lots of heart wrenching sobs when I left.

Fiona did text me a "Sniff, sniff" later which kind of made up for it.

Anyway I ended up being at the airport three hours early and then had a three hour stop over in Dallas.

I have become addicted to solitaire on my Ipod. I must have played it for about 10 house yesterday which is actually pretty sad.

Thank goodness for the charging stations at the airport.

But I made it safely to San Diego where I am staying with Kristen (little sis of my person Joyce) and her husband Adam for the weekend. At 10pm I was ready for bed mostly because I was still on New York time and it was 1am to me.

I was looking forward to a great sleep in until Fiona texted me at about 6.30am. She has a habit of doing this - the other week it was 1.30am. That time it was because she was still awake and maybe thought that if she couldn't sleep then I shouldn't either. This time was because the fact that I was in a different time zone had escaped her.

Anyway the weather is lovely in San Diego and Kristen and I went for a long walk and ended up at Balboa Park which is a lovely place full of gardens, the zoo, places to eat, museums, street performers and more. It was a gorgeous day and just perfect for walking, strolling and talking.

Which we did plenty of.

NEW YORK - GREENWICH VILLAGE

My last day in New York (apart from being sad) was busy. It involved a bunch of washing, cleaning, packing, moving back to Fiona and Bob's, not to mention fitting in baking some Anzacs. We didn't have time to go to the gym (although we had good intentions) but did have time to go to Tea and Sympathy to have afternoon tea in an English teahouse. Which ended up being lunch with cucumber finger sandwiches, cake, scones and tea.

Well, obviously tea.

Oh yeah, I also managed my last cooking session with Kiki which was brownies.

And I'm very excited to report that I rate number three on Kiki's list of heroes. After Bob and Fiona of course. Now, she could have just being nice to make me feel good. But then this is a girl who had no qualms telling me one day that my teeth looked yellow (don't you love how kids don't seem to be able to filter?), so I'm going to take her on her word.

NEW YORK - GREENWICH VILLAGE

Fiona, Bob, Kiki and I went out for dinner on my second last night here. We went to Japonica all the way over the other side of the street from their apartment. It's Kiki's favorite. When I asked her where she wanted to go to eat the answer was Japonica! No big surprise.

I can't believe that I have to leave New York and will be home in less than a week!

NEW YORK - EAST VILLAGE

This was my last weekend in New York :(.
This trip :).
So Friday arvo it was time to line up at the half price ticket booth one more time and I bagged us some tickets to see "A Little Night Music" which neither Jaime or I have seen before. Even though they were 40% off they were the dearest ones yet. The show had Angela Lansbury (who was fantastic) and Katherine Zeta-Jones (who was great but not really a singer) and was so much funnier than I thought it was going to be.
Jaime only just made it in time (she literally walked into the foyer right at 8pm) and at interval ate the cold cheeseburger I had picked up for her a few hours earlier when we thought she would have time before the show to eat it.
I think it's put her off hamburgers for awhile.
After the show we headed off to Slattery's pub and I met her Irish man Paul and some off his friends (see the photo to check him out).
Saturday morning I was helping Lili out with more de-cluttering and Jaime headed back to Rye for the day. I don't know if it was lack of sleep or what (getting to bed somewhere between 2am and 3am, the other girl in my apartment having a shower at about 3.30am - my bedhead and the shower share a wall - someone texting Jaime at 5.45am from England plus a teeny bit of snoring from Jaime, I'm a light sleeper so you can imagine that all this drove me crazy) but Saturday morning was the start of a few weird days for me. Everything seemed to go wrong and I did stupid stuff I rarely do.
Firstly I left a little bit late (well alright that IS something I do do) but then I got off the bus one stop early which meant I had to walk a block which then meant I had to wait for the next train and consequently got to Lili's 15 minutes late. The day before I had got there early enough that I had time to get a coffee beforehand.
Then my computer got a virus or spyware or something. We had booked tickets to go to the movies Saturday night with Fiona to see "Alice In Wonderland" but there were storms here that day and a tree fell on Jaime's house and she was running late getting back to the city and I was worried about someone hacking into my computer and getting my passwords and taking my money or my identity......................
So I met Fiona at the cinema, we changed our tickets for a later show, texted Jaime to meet at Fiona's and then I spent ages checking my accounts and changing all my passwords. Do you know what a pain that is? Firstly you have to remember everything you have a password for, then figure out how to change it and then come up with new passwords. Well it's not really that hard but it's a pain and then you have this change over period where every time you log into something you end up putting in the old password because you've used it for so long and it's like "Shit!!!!!!" Until you remember the new one. Which can be tricky because every bank or user group etc has different criteria for their passwords. Must have one capital, must have three digits, can only be six characters long, blah, blah, blah. Not to mention those websites that rate the strength of your password which for me usually starts off as weak so I keep adding letters and symbols and numbers until it gets to strong and then I have this impossibly complicated password to try and remember!
I am sure there were a few other things on Saturday (like being really clumsy) but they were the main ones.
So I figured that on Sunday I would wake up with a clean slate and be back to my normal organised, unforgetful (generally) self.
Uh. No.
I had asked Jaime to text me if she wasn't coming back to my place so that I knew she was okay. About 6.30am she texted to say she was fine but not coming back and to remind me to put my clock forward an hour for daylight savings time. Which I did straight away. I had my alarm set for 11am, got up and called Fiona to wake her up so she wouldn't miss yoga and she said "why are you calling so early it's only 9 o'clock."
I told her it was 11.......daylight savings and all that. l got ready, headed on out to yoga and it was only once I got out of the lift that I realised that I had gone to the wrong place. The one we use as a fallback position if the teacher we like at out favorite place isn't working. What an idiot.
So I walked down to the right one still with plenty of time for the 12.30 class and when I got there their clock said 11.20, it was kind of quiet and there was no sign of Fiona. Not that that means anything - 'on time' is definitely not her middle name. I felt like a bit of a fool but I asked the guy at the desk if the clock on the wall was right. He tells me yes. So I leave and call Fiona on both her phones but there was no answer. I went back in and asked the guy if he'd seen her. Nope. So I walked to her apartment and there she was sitting on the couch. I had completely stuffed up my time not to mention going to the wrong place. For the first time ever I think my phone changed to daylight savings itself and then I moved it forward another hour - it's the only explanation I can think of.
I have spent way too much time with Fiona - I'm turning into her.
She of course thinks it's hilarious.
She also thinks Mercury must be in retrograde. I have no idea what that is but when it happens lots of stuff can go wrong. She looked up a website called "Is Mercury in retrograde?"
In bold it says - NO.
There goes that theory down the toilet.
Fine, I thought. It's just a blip.
Or maybe I could blame it on hormones?
Monday is going to be perfect.
Monday. I tripped over my phone cord twice while it was charging and dropped it on the floor and some weird messages came up.
Turned it off. Turned it on. Looked fine. Phew.
Not a great start but the day was looking good until I was trying to get back from Brooklyn in time to babysit for Bob and Fiona that night. I jumped on the wrong train. Well it was actually the right train, it was just going in the wrong direction. I looked at my watch thinking I was never going to make it. Got off at the next stop, changed platforms, looked at my watch and the time was the same.
My watch had stopped.
WHAT IS GOING ON???????
Seriously this was the weirdest three days of being all over the place and all out of sorts that I can remember. I told Fiona that if this is what she feels like all the time then I would go crazy being her. She just shrugged her shoulders and said "Ah well," with a big grin on her face.
She embraces it. Which is probably the wisest thing to do.
I would tear my hair out.
But I am happy to report that by Tuesday I was back on track - thank goodness.
It wasn't Mercury and it could have been hormones.
Maybe it's just time for me to go home for awhile.

NEW YORK - BROOKLYN

I have been helping out a client of Bob's who is preparing to move into a new house in Brooklyn. After I got off the subway on my way there, I saw this walking to their apartment.

How cute is that?

Very, is the correct answer.

NEW YORK - GREENWICH VILLAGE

Spring is on it's way. These photos don't show the lovely sunny weather we've been having (mostly because the day I took them there wasn't that much sun) but you can tell by all the people in the parks. Up until recently Washington Square Park would have few people in it when I walked through to pick Kiki up from school. But the good weather is bringing everyone out in droves.

And where else but in New York would you find someone busking on an upright piano? It's not just because of the weather - this guy was often there over the last few cold months.

Every time I see him I marvel at how (in a city full of walk ups - apartments with no lifts) he managed to get it to the square and tune it up each time.
That's commitment for you.

NEW JERSEY - CHERRY HILL

I've just returned from a weekend visiting my friend Sybil (aka Ruthie) and her family in New Jersey. As always I was welcomed with open arms (you've gotta love that about Americans) and was just like one of the family.

We spent a lot of the weekend shopping (no sales tax on clothes in NJ) and even drove into Delaware (no sales tax on anything). I bought myself a new camera which at the start of my trip I had no intention of doing but I decided it would be good to have one that will fit in your pocket. I realise I have to get a plug adaptor but that's no big deal with the money I have saved buying it here.

I also got some new runners to replace the ones the rat ran over in New York - it was about time anyway as I've had the other ones for years. I got a great bargain on an Adidas pair and Sybil and Julia had hours of fun (alright, slight exaggeration) teasing me about the way we pronounce Adidas. They say A-dee-das whereas we say Add-e-das. Hope that makes sense. Obviously I was trying to do the whole phonetic thing.

Not sure I was that successful actually.

I also got a Levis backpack for $10 that in the Levis store was $80! So now I can give Fiona back her almost new one that I have been using for most of the year.

Apart from some food and a few other things most of the credit card bashing was done by Sybil. Although I have a sneaking suspicion that she blames me. We got a lot of great bedding, cushions and towels for her bedroom and ensuite renovation that is basically finished and looks great. I can't be blamed for all the clothes she bought the girls though.

Actually I shouldn't be blamed for any of it. I don't think Sybil needs that much encouragement to go shopping - but she is a woman after a bargain and she knows where to find them. You've got to love that!!!!!!

I also got my hair done again while I was there as you can see from the attractive photo of me that Sybil took on her phone (that's Julia getting hers cut in the background). I was slightly worried about how it would turn out when I saw the hairdresser's hair as I kind of think that their own hair is a reflection of how good they are. But it turned out okay. She did talk a lot and after almost every sentence said "You know what I mean?" I was constantly nodding yes because saying no could have brought on a whole avalanche of discussion that I wasn't really up for.

I thought that when I got back to New York Fiona would look at my hair, pull that face she does so well that is best described as incredulous horror and say "You did WHAT in New Jersey? You got a great cut here in Manhattan last time and now you go and get it done in New Jersey? What were you thinking?"

I hate it when she disappoints me.

But the weekend was over so fast and before I knew it I was racing to get to the bus.

Literally.

We just made it which meant there was no time for long tearful farewells (I had told Julia I wanted to see copious amounts of tears from her). Maybe that's the best way. It feels strange to know that this was my last visit with them on this trip.

Yes you read that correctly.

On this trip.

NEW YORK - EAST VILLAGE

This weekend Jaime and I saw Mary Poppins. I had to line up for an hour in the cold but we got tickets in the ninth row of the stalls. Pretty darn good if I may say so myself!

NEW YORK - EAST VILLAGE

It's snowing here again. Yesterday I picked Kiki up from school and by the time we got home my jeans were drenched from the knees down. It was like someone had hosed me down - I could actually wring water out of them. The fact that she had fun kicking the snow every step she took, which then landed on me, may have had something to do with it.

Kiki hates walking everywhere and always wants to take a cab but mean old Aunty Tracey (actually I've managed to get her to call me Beautiful Gorgeous Aunty Tracey but like all my kids at home, she usually only says it when she wants something) makes her walk! But yesterday, one of the few days when she didn't ask, she should have. She told me it was because she thought I'd say no.

Generally yes. Yesterday, no.

New rule - really crap weather, take a cab.

So today is a snow day - no school. And it's beautiful out side. Yesterday it was wet and sludgy snow and today it's soft and fluffy and the streets look so pretty.

Here's a few photos - one outside my bedroom window of the fire escape (attractive, I know) and the other from the living room window at the front.

The third is actually of a new kitchen scrubbing brush I bought. Completely unrelated to what I've just talked about. But hey, she's pretty cute huh?

NEW YORK - EAST VILLAGE

This weekend Jaime came down on Friday and we spent the night watching Xanadu. It's been years since I've seen it but we both knew all the words to the songs.

I was wondering if that was slightly tragic?

I posted the question on Facebook and got mixed responses. But the general feeling seemed to be that as long as we didn't know all the dance moves as well, then it was okay.

On Saturday we lined up again for our cheap theatre tickets (with a grande skinny caramel one shot Starbuck's latte in hand as usual) and got good seats to see "In The Heights."

It was enjoyed by one and all.

Well, Jaime and I anyway.

Can't really speak for the rest of the audience.

NEW YORK - EAST VILLAGE

So, I got me some new glasses!

About time too considering I got my old ones back in 2000 just before what's-his-name and I went to England for a holiday.

So it was time for a new era in eye wear. Fiona and I had looked uptown but they just weren't right. The same company had a store downtown just around the corner from me and there we found them. It's funny how the different areas of Manhattan have a whole different feel to them, each with their own type of people. Uptown is a much more conservative bunch than down here. And it's all reflected in the clothes, food, home wares, right down to the glasses, that are sold in the stores.

We took Kiki along with us because at seven she's actually pretty good at knowing what looks right. We didn't completely agree though. When it came down to the final two, she went for one and Fiona and I thought the other. They were the same style only the ones Kiki liked were purple and the ones I actually got were black and orange. Orange!!!! I can hear my Mum (and possibly Tracey Casey) cringing but they actually look pretty cool. Well that's what we think. And what with my new "do" to go along with it, well..................if I don't look like an East Villager then I don't know who does.

Actually I'm not all that sure what an East Villager looks like but Fiona tells me I look the part so I'm going go with that.

As you can see by the photo - I'm not actually in it. You can't really see the orange when I take one of me wearing them - this way you get a much better sense of what they look like.

NEW YORK - EAST VILLAGE

Remember I mentioned that there are a couple of turtles that I am looking after while I stay here? Well, may I introduce to you, Fat Shelly and Talulah-Patrice.

I think at some point there was a third one. As far as I remember the story goes something like this. The third one (not sure of it's name so we'll call her/him Frank) got out one day (God only knows how - and I mean that literally) and was lost in the apartment for about three weeks. How it managed to survive for three weeks without food and water is beyond me but turtles can live a very long time so I guess they have mastered the talent of surviving amidst adversity. So Frank loses a bit of weight on his three week vacation and Fat Shelly and Talulah-Patrice pack it on slightly. Eventually Frank decides he's seen enough of the big wide world and somehow manages to find his way home. Either that or someone nearly trips over him one day and plonks him back in the tank. Which, by the way is just a large plastic container.

There is a joyous reunion between the three turtles - or so it appears to begin with. Fat Shelly and Talulah-Patrice are, in reality, none to pleased to have him back - less space, seemingly less food, their list of complaints was endless. Secretly they were just really pissed that Frank had had a big adventure and they had been stuck in the plastic tub with no-one to talk to but each other and a few fish. Who, considering their short term memory, can actually be good to have around. Got only one good joke that you love to tell over and over? Then a fish is the best friend you could have - he'll laugh every time. In for a heavy discussion on politics or the state of the world's economy? Then you're in trouble. Anyway bitterness and jealousy can eat away at one's heart and turn once good natured turtle folk into petty, back stabbing little sea creatures. Now whether Fat Shelly and Talulah-Patrice plotted Frank's demise or it was in the heat of the moment, I guess we'll never really know. In the end Frank bit the dust late one Friday night after the sun lamps had been turned off and everyone had gone to bed. The next morning all that was left of Frank was his shell bobbing upside down in the tank and some teeny tiny turtle nails/claws (whatever it is they have) floating on the surface. Fat Shelly and Talulah-Patrice sat in the tank, pictures of innocence. Although strangely, not interested in the least in having their breakast.

R.I.P. Frank - the turtle I never met, fed or freaked out over having to lift out of the tank.

NEW YORK - EAST VILLAGE

Saturday, Saturday, Saturday!

And what was on my busy schedule? Up relatively early to make sure I had time to clean the turtle tank (more on that another day) before I schlep my way to the Y and knock over 44 laps in the pool. Walk to Old Navy and a knitting shop. Success at Old Navy and the knitting shop is closed on Saturday in winter.

Catch the subway uptown to meet Jaime and quickly drop into The Gap before I meet her in the half price ticket line. Luckily she is already there as it's busy today - probably because it's a long weekend. It's Presidents Day on Monday. Not really sure what that is.

Something about Presidents.

Obviously.

We planned to see "The Heights" but could only get seats with a reduced view so we changed to "Stomp". Grabbed some lunch at an Irish place before making our way back downtown to see the show, which, incidentally was only a few blocks from my place. My place. Sounds weird, huh? Ran the last part of the way because we had dropped into The Gap again and were running out of time.

But made it. Phew!

Saw the show.

Loved the show.

Jaime left and I went home to turn the lights on for the turtles so they could sun bake (don't ask - all will be revealed). Made my way over to Fiona's and on the way stopped in at Shoe Mania and picked up some gumboots (they call them rain boots here) on special. Had been looking for some after the massive amount of snow we recently had but couldn't find comfy ones at a good price. Love these 'cause they are comfy, fake fur lined and not really high so are easy to get on and off. They are metallic silver (the only colour in my size) but have been approved by Kiki who declared them as "so cool". Oh yeah also stopped into Walgreens for some necessities.

Cup of tea and a honey joy with Fiona before we took ourselves off to see the movie "Up In The Air". It was good but not really Academy Award stuff so we aren't sure why it's been nominated. Back to Fiona's to pick up my shopping that I had left with Sergio her doorman (he's only one of them but he's my favorite).

Walked four blocks home. Put the kettle on, cracked open the TimTams (pretty good that I waited a whole 24 hours to open them), took a photo of my new boots and pj bottoms - courtesy of Old Navy - for your viewing pleasure.

And here tis.

NEW YORK - EAST VILLAGE

Fiona bought me a house warming present today. Well three to be exact.

THREE PACKETS OF DOUBLE DIP TIMTAMS!!!!!!!!

And they're the Arnotts ones from Australia not the Pepperidge Farms ones made in America. What a friend!

Although I was wondering if she's trying to sabotage my lose weight/get fit thingy. While I have been running on the treadmill she has been walking and going up mountains (on the treadmill). She tells me it's all about the incline not about how fast I run or how high I can get my heart rate. So the other day she climbed about 700 or 800 feet. Of course I decided to try the whole walking/incline thing and I got to just over 1000 feet. Her response when I texted her was that I am so competitive.

Hmmmmm. Really?

So the next time I did it I got to just under 1800 feet!

She's never gonna catch me.

Maybe I am a bit competitive.

Maybe it is sabotage.

NEW YORK - EAST VILLAGE

A couple of days ago I moved four blocks down the street to the apartment of Fiona's friend (who is overseas at the moment) that I am sub-letting for the rest of my time here. It's only four blocks away but I am now in the East Village instead of Greenwich Village.

We (along with all my luggage) caught a cab to take us the four blocks. Seems odd doesn't it but it's a common way that people move in the city especially when they don't have that much stuff. Fiona once moved apartments by taking a cab five times. Much cheaper than paying for removalists and in a city where most people don't have cars, is the logical way to do it. Besides many apartments here are furnished so it's really just your personal things.

Did you know that in most cases in America, when you buy or sell a house the fridge, washing machine and dryer usually stay with the house? Bizzare, huh?

Could be kind of gross too.

So we get to the apartment and Mr. Yu (who, along with his daughter, lives there with Fiona's friend but is going to China for six weeks) met us at the door in his boxer shorts while cooking dumplings.

Odd.

We dumped my stuff and went through a few things with him and then went off for the rest of the day. I went back later that night to a plate full of dumplings for dinner. I'm sure I ate way too many - they were really nice and I wasn't sure what was an appropriate number to eat. Too many and I look like a pig. Too few and he might think I didn't like them.

I decided that I may have eaten too many when later on some of his friends came over to eat also.

Ooops!

Since then we have had a blizzard, which resulted in a snow day and basically means the schools are closed. I trudged through the snow back to Fiona's to babysit Kiki while Bob and her went to see a play with Scarlett Johansson and Leiv Schreiber. One of their friends was the director and it must have been opening night or a preview as there were several celebs there. Goldie Hawn, Kurt Russell, Kathleen Turner....................

My exciting news?

Kiki and I made Honey Joys today!

NEW YORK - GREENWICH VILLAGE

Well the weekend rolled around again and that means what?

Another chance for Jaime and I to see a Broadway show. Actually this time it was off Broadway. We went to see "Avenue Q" which has won a ton of awards in the past including a Tony Award for Best Musical.

The best way to describe it - in Jaime's words (and they are pretty accurate) - is the x-rated version of Sesame Street. The national Australian tour is on right now and apparently ends in June so I definitely recommend seeing it before it ends.

And no I didn't take photos in the theatre - I got them off the internet.

As if I would!

NEW YORK - GREENWICH VILLAGE

Today Kiki and I made a cake.

Bob had been away in California for a few days so it was to welcome him home.

NEW YORK - GREENWICH VILLAGE

The Saturday after Australia Day Jaime and I went to a night out for Aussies (a belated Australia Day) organised by the New York Magpies which is a bunch of Aussies who get together and play football.
Or something like that.
We got a door prize for getting there early which was a box with a bottle opener, pen and something else (can't remember 'cause it wasn't that exciting) from Coopers. We went there to meet some other Aussies in New York although they were a bit clique-y (really have no idea how to spell that or if it's even a real word) because they all seemed to know each other and didn't make an effort to include us. So much for Aussies being really friendly.
Anyway we had a few drinks and a meat pie (very disappointing as the pastry was really blah and as far as I'm concerned that's the best part) and actually met a few Americans who were really nice. One happened to be married to an Aussie and he seemed like a nice guy.
We ended up spending a lot of the night talking to two great Poms (mad of course - aren't they all) who are in the RAF and have been in the U.S. for about two and a half years. They are stationed in Las Vegas and were having a five day break in New York. They were great guys and absolutely hilarious.
The highlight of the night?
Someone dressed as a Koala was handing out TimTams.
The major highlight of the night?
One of the organisers gave me a pack of TimTams to take home. He may have been completely smashed when he did it because as I was leaving he said "Did I really give those to you?"
"Yes you did." I answered, holding on very, very tightly to them.
They are actually made in America by a company called Pepperidge Farms and on the front they say something like 'An Australian cookie.'
You'd think they could at least say the right thing and call them a biscuit.
Why do the Americans have to change everything to the way they do it??????
Anyway I was able to introduce TimTams to Fiona and teach her the correct way to eat them. Bite off a corner on each end (diagonally opposite is better) and then get a cup of tea and drink it through the biscuit like a straw. Then shove the whole melted, wonderful, chocolaty thing in your mouth.
It's heaven.
And I'm happy to report that there is one American that agrees with me.
Oh yeah, I forgot to say that before we went to the Australia Day thingy we had dinner at the Oyster Bar which is a famous restaurant located in Grand Central Station and has been there for a gazillion years. Right before you walk into the restaurant there are two walkway areas and the ceiling where they cross is kind of domed and vaulted. Anyway if you each stand in a corner (diagonally opposite from each other), face the wall and whisper, then you can hear what the other person says just as if they were standing next to you.
Alright, so you feel like a complete tool facing the wall and you look like you're talking to yourself (actually in New York it doesn't seem that out of place) but it's really cool. It's called the whispering spot or corner or something fairly obvious like that.
I must say I felt better when we came out after dinner and saw other people doing it and looking somewhat like fools.

NEW YORK - GREENWICH VILLAGE

I decided that I'd had enough with long hair (again) and it was time to have it all cut off (again). Not to mention the "Can you please get your hair done!!!!" that I was getting from Fiona every other day. To be fair, the re-growth was way beyond acceptable and it had gotten to that length where it drives me nuts so I just put it up all the time. So Friday was the day. I wasn't that sure about it (I know you need to give it a few days) and the next morning when I couldn't get it to do what I wanted, I decided to go back and get it a bit shorter which was a good idea. I'll put some photos up soon. On the way to the hairdressers (the second time) Fiona and I saw a huge brown rat on the pavement in 14th Street. She's completely disgusted by them (I'm not that fond of them either but her dislike is extreme) so when she saw it she freaked out and ended up pushing me into it's path and I felt it brush up against my foot as it ran past. We were in fits of laughter despite how gross it was.

I think I need some new runners.

The other excitement for the weekend (apart from a little incident at a subway which I won't even mention) was that Kiki's first tooth came out. We all had to guess when we thought it would happen.

And guess who won?

Me!!!!!!!!

When I pointed this out Kiki said "You don't have to be right about everything you know."

I told her that I wasn't always right (which is actually the opposite of what I've told her in the past) and that the least she could do was give me a bit of credit for this one thing.

Pigs might fly.

NEW YORK - GREENWICH VILLAGE

After my successful stint of de-cluttering Fiona and Bob's apartment (alright, we're not quite finished but we're getting there), I have moved on to help a friend of theirs. She lives in a big three bedroom apartment in Tribeca. I walk three blocks to the subway, get on the number 1 train downtown and if I get in the second to last carriage then I come out right on the corner of her street. The building her apartment is in was a warehouse so it has wonderfully high ceilings (with multiple arches) and fantastic windows. There are tons of cupboards including two large store rooms.

So lots of sorting and de-cluttering to keep me out of trouble.

Because we all know how much trouble I usually get into.

NEW YORK - GREENWICH VILLAGE

On Saturday I had a great day catching up with my friend Jaime that I have known for about 15 years. We met doing theatre and on the weekend we realised that after all the years we have known each other and the shows that we have both been involved in, that we have never actually performed together in a show. We've done fundraisers and Christmas Carols and even sung at another friends wedding but have never done a show together.

Weird.

Apart from hours spent talking (we think it's about six years since we last saw each other), catching up on each others lives and theatre gossip we managed to find time to go out for lunch, do a bit of shopping, see Mama Mia (half price tickets of course) and then grab some dinner.

I think it's been awhile since I've talked that much.

Well. Maybe not actually.

NEW YORK - GREENWICH VILLAGE

Monday was Martin Luther King day so Kiki had the day off school. So did our friend Sybil (aka Ruthie) so she caught the train into New York and met us for lunch. We went to a place called Burgers and Cupcakes which seems to me an odd combination for a restaurant.

But still.

We went. We ate. We had a good time.

NEW YORK - GREENWICH VILLAGE

We're well into January and I know that I have been mega slack (as Belle rightly pointed out) on my blog. Because I'm staying here for most of the rest of my time and because I am staying with friends, life tends to take on a normal kind of routine and there isn't something to blog about every single day (although I'm sure I could crap on about nothing each day if I really tried).

So what have I been doing?

Sleeping in.

Often because we stay up late talking or watching t.v. but also because Fiona does it everyday anyway. Bob gets Kiki ready for school and drops her off on his way to work - any jealous wives out there reading this? Because he also does all the bedtime stuff too. She's a mega Daddy's girl so it really works out well for everyone.

We joined the YMCA and have been swimming and running on the treadmill - they also have a running track which is really cool. In fact since we joined eight days ago I have been running three times and swimming twice as well as to yoga twice (not at the Y though). So the "get back into shape before I come home" plan is in action. Now if only I could moderate what I eat a bit better then maybe the "lose a few kilos before I come home" plan would happen too.

This time in New York I am staying with Fiona and Bob for nearly six weeks, which is so great of them considering there is three in their family and they have a one and a half bedroom apartment. But it seems to work surprisingly well.

Or maybe that's just my point of view and they will breathe a huge sigh of relief when I leave and they get some space back.

Anyway in return for their generosity I am helping out as much as I can with things like dishes, errands, picking Kiki up from school and babysitting. Fiona and I are also doing a huge "spring type" clean out of the apartment. I am very good at minimising and sorting and it's not really her strong point. We have lists (I love lists) of all the things that need to be done and we are working our way through them. Very satisfying actually.

I'm also finishing their entry foyer which Fiona started ages ago and never got around to finishing. It's painting and cutting and pasting amazing sepia photos of African animals onto the two end walls to create a kind of wallpaper collage. Sounds a bit blah, I know but it looks amazing. I'm also helping track their spending for a month - something that the bookkeeper wanted them to do a few years ago but never quite happened.

So essentially I'm helping her sort out stuff in her life (in an organisational kind of way) and she's going to sort out mine (in a completely different way).

Fair swap.

So really a boring post actually.

Don't you wish I'd just left it alone?

NEW YORK - GREENWICH VILLAGE

I realise I've been a bit quiet on the old blog for the last week or so, so here's an update. Mum and Mrs. Winrow left to fly off to Las Vegas and I am back in Greenwich Village with Fiona, Bob, Kiki and Coraline the kitten (Squeaky the cat having gone to a 'better place' while I have been off traipsing around the rest of the country).

Actually for four days it was just Coraline and I as the others went to Miami for a holiday (and to look at a boat that Bob has been doing the fit out for). So while I was here in the cold and snow (no complaints - I love it), they were hanging out at the pool in the Florida sunshine. Well Bob was working but the girls were relaxing.

Anyway Coraline and I hung out together and had a great time, sleeping in (her not so much - she would wake me up in the morning by sitting right up close to my face and putting her paw gently on my shoulder - awwwww) and watching the 200 or more channels on cable (some which seem to air complete crap).

After dropping off my suitcase I walked the two blocks to the grocery store and came back ready to make soup. I'd wanted to make pumpkin soup but you can't get pumpkins all year round here like you can at home (I think it's a weather issue) unless it's out of a can (whoever heard of canned pumpkin? Well somebody, I guess but certainly not me). So I settled for vegetable soup.

The next day I planned to go to K-Mart to buy some more knitting needles (have got right into knitting since visiting Karen and Trev) so I looked it up on the internet and set out. Not very cleverly, I had not bought my hat with me and it was cooooooold. And windy which made it feel even colder. I walked and walked but couldn't find K-Mart (Fiona later told me that the address they gave on the website was wrong) and at some point my ears got so cold that they went numb. It's the weirdest sensation to try and grab hold of your ears and not be able to feel them. Well my hands could feel them but my ears couldn't feel my hands if you know what I mean. Kind of like when you sleep on your arm and it goes numb and then you roll over and .................. well you know what I'm talking about.

So I made my way (as fast as possible) to Starbucks for a (you guessed it) caramel latte. A grande size this time. I managed to thaw out while standing in line.

The next two days after that I didn't leave the apartment (Fiona thought I wouldn't leave the whole time). Not because I didn't want to but because the carpenter came to do some work on the bathroom (long story about pipes leaking) and I felt a bit weird about going out and leaving him in the apartment. Actually I wasn't all that sure about letting him in in the first place. All I could think of was Fiona coming back and saying "You let a complete stranger into the apartment? What were you thinking?" I did try to call both her and Bob when he turned up but neither of them answered and I figured that the doorman had let him up in the first place so it must have been okay.

Luckily it was. But it put a halt to my going outside. Which was okay because Coraline and I got to watch a lot of episodes of 'Clean House". In fact on New Years Eve I think we started at about 5pm and were still watching it when Fiona, Bob and Kiki got back from Miami at nearly 11pm.

So what did I do for New Years Eve in New York City? Nothing much at all. I know that sounds really lame, here I am in one the busiest and most exciting places in the world and I do nothing! Well I could have gone to Times Square but I would have been on my own, it was freezing cold, people started getting there at about 3pm and there were no public toilets being set up. Which, if you can hold off going to the bathroom for nearly ten hours is fine.......................

So I did what I actually enjoy doing. Saw in the New Year in the comfort of home. Well their home, not mine. But a home nonetheless.