December 18th "The Santaland Diaries"

Nancy and I enjoyed her birthday present from Matt and Katie. They gave her tickets to the Santaland Dairies.  It is a one man play about the time that David Sedaris, in his 30s and out of work, had to suffer the indignities of taking a job as an elf at the Macy's Santaland in New York City. The tale was first performed as a monologue by Sedaris on National Public Radio in 1992.  

December 17 Peacock Lane

After a visit to drop off some packages at Santas Ron and Sue ( Katie's parents) for a sleigh ride down to Klamath Falls, the intrepid explorers braved the crowds to walk down Peacock Lane in SE Portland. It is quite a spectacle.

We capped off the evening with a stop at the Laurelwood Brew Pub for a snack and libation.

Interesting Photos from NYC

Radio City Music Hall, billboard near Times Square, Ed Sulivan Theater, Nancy waiting in line to see Jersey Boys, going back to the hotel on a rainy night.

December 6th ~ Feed the Hungry

Ross, Debbie, Nancy and I prepared enough tuna noodle casserole, salad, beans & carrots to feed 120 people. It was a cold day and we had many guests that enjoyed our food. Workers included a group from La Salle High School, community service kids and several adults who enjoy working in the kitchen and serving the food.


Nancy and I went to bed early and got up late. Back to the regular and normal things of hanging out at home. Long breakfasts, reading the paper, defrosting the hummingbird feeder, washing clothes and it looks like it is time to hit the hay again.

Good Night all.

December 5th Our last day in NYC

Nancy and I slept in until 8:30 and strolled a few blocks over to Pigalle's for breakfast. After a nice breakfast and a final walk up 8th Avenue to the Saturday Market in Central Park. We hurried back to the hotel as a light mist was beginning to fall. Our suit cases packed and the room checked for forgotten items, we departed the Crown Plaza.

The rain had finally started with treats of snow in the evening. I mentioned the rain to the taxi driver and he said the city was crying because it was sad to see us go. The taxi ride to the JFK was about 35 minutes and uneventful. The pilot says we will arrive an hour early in Seattle. Yippy skippy and I hope we can get on an earlier flight to PDX. We did get an earlier hop to PDX and our friend Ross generously picked us up at the airport. We were almost home when our original flight was suppose to take off in Seattle. Confused on the time 10:00 PM or 1:00 AM, but it didn't matter. We are cooking for the homeless tomorrow and I am teaching Sunday school.

December 4 NYC

Light breakfast at Starbuck's, still stuffed from the ribs last night. Rick and Kate had some shopping to do, so Nancy and I walked down 5th Avenue to FAO Schwarz.

We also stopped at the see through cube for the Apple Store.

 Rick and Kate joined us and we all wandered around the Plaza Hotel and walked back down 7th Avenue to the Carnegie Deli. Nancy and I shared a giant pastrami sandwich. We waddled back to the hotel and dropped off our souvenirs.

Rick wanted to go to the New York Metro Transit Museum in Brooklyn. Naturally, we headed for the underground and another subway trip. It was well put together and fun for the train buffs. We came back to Manhattan on the "F" train for our last trip on the subway. Note - the subway look is between zombie and a blank stare at the floor. Eye contact is very seldom, except for children. 

Note the live in museum cat.

We were really tired and stopped at Rosie O'Grady's for some libations and a chance to rest our feet.


We went back to the to the Carnegie Deli for the best cheesecake we had during the trip. We window shopped all the way back to Times Square.

 We couldn't miss walking through the M&M Store and the Hersey's Chocolate Stores. What a madhouse. Rick and Kate were leaving early the next morning, so we said our goodbyes and went back to the room to pack.

December 3rd NYC

A walk through Central Park.

The NYC tour group ambled over to the Olympic Cafe to gain some sustenance for the long day ahead. A short ride on the #2 train to the west side of Central Park and a beautiful walk through the park and saw many of famous spots you see in the movies. One stop was at the Boat House for a cup of Joe. We finally made it to the east side of the park and Metropolitan Museum of Art. Kate really wanted a vending cart hot dog, so we all indulged ourselves before checking out the museum. I can tell you that the museum is reeeaaallllly big and has some great exhibits. We went to Virgil's Real Barbeque and chowed down on some delicious ribs and the portions were humongous. We did our best, but we had to leave some on our plates. We needed a long walk, so off to join the throngs of people looking at the gorgeous Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center. Wow, what a lot of people and ice skating too. We walked by the Radio Music Hall, NBC studios and several theaters. The decorations around the big building were enormous and very well done.

Metropolitian Museum of Art

Dec. 2nd in NYC

Subway tracks and Grand Central Station

The NY Stock Exchange is just about a block from Trinity Episcopal Church, the place where George Washington was scorned as President, and many other financial instructions.

Below is St. Patrick's. This picture with the blue tarps is the new World Trade Center Memorial. This first picture of the church is from the sidewalk in front of the church. If you remember the remembrances placed on a fence. It was in front of this church

 

     

The plaza, just off Braodway and Wall Street, we had a nice lunch from the cart with the two umbrellas

Dec. 1 NYC

Bud, Nancy, Rick and Kate.                                                           Looking up inside the Statue of Liberty

Kate found her grandfather's records when he immigrated to the U.S. through Ellis Island on

December 24, 1923.

New York Skyline on the trip back from Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.

Nov 30 NYC

Our friends Rick and Kate. We spent the day touring the Natural History Museum. Butterflies, bones, stuffed animals, exibits and films. We pushed the envelope and wonered down to Rockafeller plaza. It was an amazing day and we collapased after dinner.

Nov 29 NYC