Burrrr!

Not too much to report from last week. Friday after work I decided to stop into Nine West and Ann Taylor Loft on my way to the subway (how conveeeeeeenient). I found some brown riding boots at Nine West that I had to have, but alas, they didn't have my size. As I've mentioned, if you aren't wearing skinny jeans or tights with riding boots in this city, you might as well have "doofus" written across your forehead. Then of course I found a couple things in ATL to buy. Went and had dinner at Christina's, my favorite neighborhood italian restaurant, and went home. The dinner was ok...caesar salad was good as usual, but the pasta dish lacked great flavor. I steered away from my  normal chicken parmesian, because it's time to lose 5 pounds.

Saturday I woke up on a mission....find  those dang brown riding boots at a Nine West! Soho NW, nope....Madison Ave NW, nope, Rockefeller Center NW, nope....finally 5th Ave NW...cha-ching. Well, I had planned to have a nice brunch with myself at Benjamin's, my other neighborhood spot. But in hearing they had my boots, I got dressed and hopped in a cab....no time for slow weekend subway service. Got to the store and WHEW, they had the boots. Of course, I bought them (and on sale!). Then went to the NBA store and milled around....and then to Gap where I bought some slacks for work and some skinny jeans.

Saturday night I was to meet this couple at the hog bar that lives in Connecticut who I had met before at the hog bar. The game was at 7....we met around 5:15. I also had my coworker meet us as he lives, and I'm not kidding, less than a minute walk from the hog bar. A great time was had by all. I finally won a raffle....it's a sweet insulated razorback bag, and some coozies and things. And the hogs killing the gamecocks wasn't so bad either. Woo Pig Sooie!

Sunday I woke up early to get moving and go to the NYC Marathon. I also wanted to kill 2 birds and take some foliage pictures in Central Park.....and get there in time to see the mens and womens leaders go by as well. Well, I wanted to enter the park on the west side because I didn't think you could cross 5th Avenue while they were racing. I was wrong. Oh well. Weekend subways were slow and I finally make my way allll the way across town up to W 96th. I take some pics in the park and start hearing a helicopter getting closer and closer. I knew they were filming the marathon leaders. I started  jogging and made it to the front row on 5th Avenue not 1 minute before the womens leaders passed. The crowd was only 1 deep along 5th where I was. I made my way into the park and the crowds were very dense and loud. I saw so many neat things. Not neat was the lady who boo boo'ed on herself. I had seen internet photos of this phenomenon in the past and thought it was fake. Nope. Not so much. Can you imagine running 26.2 miles with stuff down the back of your legs? Enough about that. It was just so inspiring....the racers, young and old, handicapped and fit...and the great fans yelling and clapping. I'm fairly sure I'll make a tradition out of watching it. ANNOUNCEMENT: I THINK I WANT TO RUN IT. I know there's someone laughing right now. Ok, all of you. But there's just something to be said about training for something like that and accomplishing it. I normally do whatever I put my mind to. I don't know when I'll put my mind to it, but I think that's something I want to do one day.

Today it was very very cold and sleeted a little bit. Temps were in the low 40's, wind chills in mid 30's, and wind gusts at 40. YEEEEE-BAHHHHH as Dad would say. GOSH it was cold. Time for the hat, scarf, and gloves. I've had some combo of the 3 at different times in the last couple of weeks.....but the trifecta was needed today. Again, so much more brutal down where I work compared to midtown.

Talked to my friend Leslie tonight....she's going to come visit on her birthday in December! It's ALWAYS been her dream, as long as I've known her, to go to NYC on her birthday and see the tree lit up at Rockefeller Center. She's never been to NYC. I'm so excited to see her and show her around, and so excited FOR her! Yay!!

More things I've learned:
1. Some people here don't know the difference in hail and sleet. Huh?
2. Approximately 30% less people fit in the seats on the subway in the winter because everyone is so wide all bundled up. Additionally, less people fit standing due to the same  reason.
3. Everything is harder when you are older. I'm so old, I didn't even reap any benefits from gaining an hour. I still slept until the same time today. :(
4. The McRib is NOTHING to write home about....save yourself a few bucks.
5. Chips and Salsa aren't free at mexican restaurants  up here. LAME-O.
6. There's no such thing as an overweight marathon runner. Shocker.
7. Ask the restaurant if they are going to charge you for a second tea here. Free refills are hard to come by. Again, LAME-O.
8. I still haven't turned on my heater. It's now a challenge to see how long I can go before turning it on. Good thing I'm on the winter leg shaving schedule.
9. For the first time in my life, I may understand the need for those hideous, long, puffy coats. You know, the one your grandma owns/owned?


xoxo

p.s. I'm going to see Prince at Madison Square Garden in December. Woo-hooo!!!!
p.s.s. If my blog title is "Burrrr!" now....I wonder what it will be in a month or two??