My nephew Frank, affectionately referred to as "Frankster the Prankster" in childhood, got married. After graduating college where he met his bride, and establishing himself working as a respiratory therapist in a hospital he decided to tie the knot with Miss Katie. An adorable, BEAUTIFUL, sweet girl that I love and want to get to know better. You see, these two live far off in another state so the wedding was my first opportunity to meet my new niece.
I spent a wonderful few days with my ex-sister-in-law Donna Marie WHO I LOVE SO MUCH and she was unbelievably hospitable and great company. I hadn't seen her in about 18 years. Like most folks these days we are friends on Facebook but nothing beats a face-to-face conversation and time well spent. I've promised to visit again.
I especially love this picture ...
Katie and her daddy walking down the aisle. Isn't she pretty!
They were married literally in her front yard, a property on a beautiful lake that was especially fitting for a fall wedding. I got the feeling that this is what she is all about. Simple pleasures and family. The reception took place under a huge tent and the food was fantastic. Gumbo, fried catfish, shrimp, bacon wrapped chicken ... incredible. It was a beautiful wedding and I am so SO glad I made the trip. God bless you both Mr. and Mrs. Martinez.
This was the first leg of my trip. Back around June I committed to my first girl's trip. NYC with Laura, Jennifer and Jaime to visit Laura's daughter Paulina who is going to college in New York. This trip was scheduled for October 9 and I was looking forward to this trip like no other because I've always ALWAYS wanted to go to New York. So, when I learned that Frank had proposed to Katie on Father's Day this past June I figured that I would have a wedding to attend sometime next year ... 2015. NOT. I get an email informing me that they are getting married on October 4. WTF! I'm going to NYC on October 9. How am I possibly going to make two trips???!!! Well ... I knew I couldn't miss this wedding and there was NO WAY IN HELL I was not going to NYC. Funny what one can accomplish when one is committed. NEW YORK CITY HERE I COME ...
There was only one problem. The second I walked into my front door upon my return from the wedding my throat started scratching ... it was very sore. Then the congestion, the body aches, the headache, THE COLD FROM HELL! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! As all who know me know ... I'd rather have surgery than get a cold ... I'm in a panic. Will I be well enough to travel? How am I going to pack when I feel like shit?! All I want to do is sleep and I only have two and half days to get ready! Emails are flying back and forth! We're due to fly out on the red-eye Thursday night!
Me: "Laura! What am I gonna do?!"
Laura: "ATTITUDE. Half of getting better is attitude!"
SO, I get up and start moving. Packing. Working. Sweating. I am not having any fun. Before I know it it's time to go. Danny drives us to the airport. I am not feeling a hundred percent ... I feel as though I am underwater.
We are meeting up with Jennifer and Jaime at the airport. I have my Airborne, my vitamin C, my vitamin B12 and I'm popping Cold-Eze like crazy. Laura and I are hours early ... I like being early because you NEVER know what might happen. Laura is texting Jennifer ... "where are you?" "We're stuck in traffic."
It's after 11:00 pm and they're announcing over the loudspeaker for us to start lining up to board.
Me: "Laura, where are they??!!"
Laura: "Don't worry girl. They're gonna waltz in right as we're boarding the plane. "
AND SURE ENOUGH as we're boarding who come straggling in ... Jennifer and Jaime. Jennifer is drunky-poo because she went to B.J.'s for dinner and had copious amounts of alcohol. So she's happy to say the least.
We are excited as we board. We get to our seats and settle in and I do my best to sleep. Jennifer and Jaime are unfortunately sitting behind the crying child from hell who cried for FIVE HOURS.
We landed at JFK about 7:30 am and then took a car to NYC. My eyes are bulging. I'm taking everything in. I'm excited and at the same time I so want to feel better. We got to the hotel, left our luggage because the room wasn't ready and we immediately TAKE OFF. Laura has us running ALL OVER NEW YORK CITY. I wasn't in shape for this. I had no makeup, I look like shit, I FEEL like shit but hey ... it's NEW YORK! We saw Rockefeller Center, Radio City Music Hall, St. Patrick's Cathedral, had lunch and then continued walking for another 17 miles. After my first six hours in NYC I needed to be intravenously fed and given speed. BUT ... when we got back to the hotel we TOOK NAPS ... YAY! After that I felt a whole hell of a lot better! By the time we went out to dinner I was a new woman.
It was a FABULOUS trip. We saw so much and ate GREAT food. Enjoyed "Jersey Boys" with fantastic seats right up front. Saw Times Square, went to the Met ... NYC is OVERWHELMING. There is so much to see, so much to do and so much to eat. The 911 Memorial was an all day event - incredibly moving. It went by much too fast!
My overall impression of NYC ... I LOVED the vibe. It is totally not what I expected. I found the people incredibly helpful and nice, just really great people. The city really does not sleep. I always wondered while watching Sex in the City how Carrie felt safe walking home alone at night???? Now I know. THERE ARE ALWAYS PEOPLE ON THE STREET! I felt very safe all the time. I loved the energy, the vibe, the way people get out and enjoy their city. Great restaurants, great museums, great sites, great neighborhoods, the city was abuzz 24/7. If I were 30 years old I'd live there! Of course, one has to make a bazillion dollars to live in the city but dayum, WHAT A CITY!
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| (Jamie, Janell, me, Laura, Paulina, Jennifer) |
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| Jennifer, Laura, Me |
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| The beautiful Juliana, Laura and Paulina
THANK YOU PAULINA FOR GOING TO SCHOOL IN NEW YORK!!
Otherwise, who knows when I'd ever have gotten to visit!
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New York is fabulous! The people are really nice and down to earth. Love it! I haven't been there in 13 years, since I moved out West. I'm always upstate when I go back home. Glad you had such a good time. And the wedding couple is adorable!
ReplyDeleteThanks Linda!!! XOXO
DeleteAww, Deb, so glad you had such a good time! There's nothing like NY!! It never disappoints!! You deserve the wonderful time you had at the wedding and with your GFs! ❤️❤️
ReplyDeleteArt & I go to NY first week in Jan.
It was amazing. You are so lucky! How many days will you be spending in NYC? I was there for four days and it was NOT ENOUGH!
DeleteDebbie! Hello there! Isn't New York fun and WILD? Ruben and I frequented the city while living in Boston, and we'd jump on the train for the five hour ride. How lovely to see your family/friends in person. These days, most of us just keep in contact with social media, but what a treat it is to experience each other in person as WE DID about five years back, now isn't it!
ReplyDeleteThank you for coming to visit. I hope you are well and enjoying this precious life we have! Anita
Anita, your blog is so soothing and calming and magical. I LOVE it! Please give my best to Ruben! It's been a while since we all chatted.
DeleteXOXO
What a great trip!
ReplyDeleteSo jealous, though because I just lovelovelove NYC!!!
PS Thanks for the wedding wishes!
BOB! I want wedding pics!
DeleteI'm glad you a great trip. There's nothing like NYC. When I lived in Dallas I flew to NYC for long weekends because it only cost $99 round trip. That was when I was much younger. It was an all night party going to the Saint at 2 in the morning and leaving at 8.
ReplyDeleteDAYUM!!! $99 round trip! YOU LUCKY!!!
ReplyDeleteOmg we got there on the 14th and left on the 20th! You were pulling out as I was pulling in!!
ReplyDeleteIt was overwhelming! You crammed lots in! It seems like everything takes half a day there, at least! I bet a girls' trip would be fun.
Did my comment work?!
ReplyDelete