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.