Am I living in the North Pole?

One day I will be able to stop saying "it's been too long since I updated my blog." The good news is it means I keep being extremely busy. I guess if I had alot of time to update my blog, I may not be enjoying my NY experience to the max.

December was a really really busy month. My dear friend Leslie came to visit. It was her first trip to NYC. I love visitors, and I love first time visitors even MORE! I had such a good time showing her around the city. We ate and shopped ourselves silly. We went to see Mary Poppins on Broadway (which was GREAT), the Christmas Spectacular with the Rockettes (always a nice treat), brunch at the Plaza, shopping on 5th Avenue, Chinatown shopping, a trip by the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island on the Staten Island Ferry (the best thing about Staten Island), many other things, and of course, THE ROCKEFELLER CENTER TREE. It has always been her dream to see the tree, and it was so exciting to see it. The only negative was it was sooooo crowded. I cannot tell you how many tens of thousands of people were crowding around the rink and tree. It didn't take away from it's beauty, though. Alas, a great time was had by all. I didn't get us lost and the pound gainage was kept to a minimum! Now, we just need to work on getting her husband and my longtime friend, Wes, up here for a visit. It may be like pulling teeth....the good news is, he's a dentist.

Staten Island Ferry with lower Manhattan and Jersey City in background

No caption necessary!

Brunch at the Plaza. Mmmmmm

Hehe

I also had the chance to meet Ina Garten from The Food Network's "Barefoot Contessa". I love her show and she was in the city signing her newest cookbook. So I went to Crate and Barrel to meet her. She was very nice and the line was longer than anticipated. But that's one thing I love about living here, there's all sorts of neat opportunities to meet people you admire.

I'm funny : P

We also had a luncheon for the people that work for myself, John, and Manu (with the exception of one that couldn't make it). It was nice to get out of the office for a couple hours and have a fabulous lunch at Harry's, which is close to work in the Financial District. We also had our company holiday party. It was at this place called 230 Fifth, on 5th Ave. The views of the city were STUNNING. They really go all out for the party (I think it's so fancy because no spouses are invited....in Dallas they are). There was a DJ, ipad giveaway, photo booth, buffet, open bar, etc etc. It was a great time for sure.

Holiday Party Fun

Then I fly home for Christmas. It had been wayyyy too long since I had been, but I've just been so busy up here getting settled. I had logistical headaches due to going to Dallas in the middle of the trip home, and ended up flying non-stop from LaGuardia to Northwest Arkansas. Boy was it culture shock when I got there. No honking, high prices, or walking. And it was NICE. We drove home and I immediately wanted to see Grandpa...so we went to none other than Taliano's to have dinner. It was so nice to see him right when I got in town. The next night we went to Emmy's to eat, then Hardscrabble with our family friends, then Thursday Leslie had what is becoming an annual shindig with some other friends. Somehow I was just so busy....Merrill Lynch appointment, taking dad to breakfast and the dentist, going grocery shopping, running other errands. I ended up in a predicament because I didn't do much shopping in NYC because I couldn't get it all home. Then I got home and was so busy, it was Christmas Eve before I could shop! It all came together in the end and I was happy with all of my purchases.  We decided to have Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve, because it just gets too hectic on Christmas to get all the presents opened and cook a whole meal. I told mom all we did was transfer the stress to Christmas Eve....but it doesn't matter. As long as I get a turkey dinner with my family at some point. Anyway, after our annual trip to the mall on Christmas Eve for Geno's pizza and last minute shopping, we went to church, then had Gramps, Uncle Eddie and Aunt Pat, and Cousin Gerald over. The food gets better every year. Christmas morning we woke up and opened gifts, and had plenty of time to cook the non-traditional meal of chicken enchiladas. Boy were they good. We had the same folks over for that meal, and then the extended family came over like they always do.We were thankful my Great Uncle Greg was out of the hospital after a recent visit, and able to come over and enjoy himself. We sure missed Sugar, Caroline, and Mike. It seemed a little empty, but we made the best of it. I got some great gifts (as usual), and hopefully everyone ejoyed what I got them. The trip went WAYYYY too fast. I don't know where the time went. But I was able to spend some QT with Gramps and get his computer issues straightened out and get him set up on Facebook and told him how to view my blog. HI GRAMPS! MISS YOU! 

After Christmas I drove my car,....yes MY CAR THAT I CAN'T SELL...to Dallas. It was nice to drive it, don't get me wrong. But I'd rather have tens of thousands of dollars in the bank. : /  I am grateful to have such wonderful and easy going friends. I'm making a habit of not having a plan when I go there and needing a place to stay. Karen of course let me stay in her guests quarters, as I call them....and Camie and Christine opened their doors. The great thing is, I have 4 other friends right behind them offering me a spot! A lucky gal, am I. I got to see "my nerds", and "the girls". I worked while I was there as well. It was so great to see everyone and see Dallas. The girls and I tried a new Italian restaurant and it was DA BOMB! Can't wait to go back and "try" it again! 4 days later I drove back home, had lunch with mom, dad, and gramps, and made my way back up to NWA to catch my flight. I was very lucky because "Snowpocalypse" happened while I was gone. I say I am sad I missed it, but I think it may have gotten old pretty quick.

It ended up being a bit weird to fly back to NYC the 30th because I was flying BACK to New Orleans on the 2nd to go to the Sugar Bowl. I just kind of felt like I needed to be in NYC on my first NYE. I went by Times Square around 3:00 pm and it was a complete zoo. It's always a zoo, but it was the zoo times 1000. I went home and went back and forth on if I should go out (didn't have any plans)....but decided to get gussied up and text a couple folks. I ended up spending the majority of the evening with my sorority sister Renee and her friends on the Lower East Side. Random, fun evening, and glad I was social and invited myself out. Better than sitting home alone!

Flew to NOLA on the 2nd for the Sugar Bowl. Flew out of JFK for the first time. It was annoying getting there. I took the subway to save money (and you never know about traffic during the day). It was a longggg subway ride thru Brooklyn....and not thru the nicest parts. I was on a local train b/c I took one close to work (I left from work with my luggage)....but it was taking forever so I switched to an express at a stop called Broadway Junction. Let's just say....I stood out. My red luggage didn't help. Anyway, I made it to the airport on time and took my first trip on Jet Blue. Loved it! More leg room and DirecTV the whole flight. Bingo! Got to the airport and was so happy to see Sugar, CAB, and Mike. I had just seen Caroline at Thanksgiving, and she's the most petite thing....so she hadn't grown a ton...but you can tell she's really learning alot. She drinks out of her sippy cup like a grown up, and she'll hug her animals and give you a kiss. Ahhh!!! Just writing this makes me so excited to see her next month. Anyway....Mom and Dad flew in right after me and we went to the French Quarter for a great dinner. I had gumbo and salmon and bread pudding. It was spot on. Then I went back and stayed at Sugar's in Mandeville for the night. We had "Christmas" the next morning. I got fabulous gifts as usual. I think the talent of gift giving runs in the Wagner genes. Caroline even helped pulling off the wrapping paper. She liked the things I got her (at least it seemed like it).

Caroline with the NYC Mickey I gaveher

So, aside from the obvious, this picture is also great because my dad ALWAYS points with his middle finger. It's become a family joke. Just one more way CAB resembles her Poppy!

One of my favorite pics off all time! At the Sugar Bowl

At the time we didn't think these were changing our luck....they did....until the last minute :(

Sugar and I then headed down to Bourbon Street to walk around with the crazies before the game. Two highlights were getting to see The Bonoffs perform "Who Stole My Chicken" and the great solo the girl does with the spoons and metal thingie she wears. We totally stalked them last Mardi Gras...they are such a fun band....so I was glad I could see them and get jazzed up for Mardi Gras THIS year. Also, a lady walked up to me and said "I'll give you 20 bucks for your beads". They were red and white beads with a razorback. I've had them a good 4 years....they were missing beads and one had a random needle thing sticking out of it. I took those things off quicker than Ryan Mallett can throw an interception, and I was GONE. 20 bucks...are you kidding me? Anyway, it was an indication of the popularity of Arkansas down there. There were Buckeye beads on sale everywhere, and not a razorback bead to be found. We outnumbered their fans at least 5-1. We went and had some charbroiled oysters, gambled a bit at the casino, and went to the game. Our seats were great, and the crowd was sooooo loud. I was so proud to be a razorback fan. I won't recap the game....still too painful. Ugh! So painful we couldn't even bring ourselves to go out onto Bourbon Street after the game. Now THATS painful.

Headed back to NYC early the next morning....back to work, a couple more snowfalls....and here I am. Today we were off work so I ran a couple errands, had lunch at Fig and Olive, shopped at Ann Taylor, and went to see True Grit. First things first, the food. I am on a diet so I thought Mediterranean food was a good choice. I had 3 different crostini's and tuna carpaccio. It was great! Glad to find a new place I love. True Grit...was fabulous. Humorous, alot of Fort Smith and Arkansas talk in general, and phenomenal acting. I had to turn my head a few times due to a couple scenes, but all in all I loved it.

It is SO COLD. It has just been cold for weeks and weeks. The snow is still piled up on the sidewalks. It's not pretty anymore. It's black/brown/gray. And ice is coming tonight. My body hasn't gotten cold yet due to my great winter coat....plus gloves and hat....but my FACE nearly freezes sometimes. Which makes your nose run. And run. And run. I asked for it though! Not sick of it...YET! I will tell you what will be nice though....leaving this weather for beautiful HAWAII next Sunday! I cannot WAIT. Going with my dear friends Jeff, Jason, and Karen. I plan to snorkel, whale watch, and zipline. I've never ziplined and I'm stoked. And we are staying in this house thing....should be a really nice, relaxing vacation.

And this wasn't even Snowpocolypse....

My door is at least 8 inches from the patio ground

 

I haven't learned too much....(I must be getting better at this)...but I can't leave without a few:

1. There's a reason there's 2 steps up to my patio door and a big step down. It's because if there wasn't, you couldn't open your door after a good snow!
2. Don't put your credit card in your coat pocket...particularly the same coat pocket where your phone is. If you do that, it's very easy to pull your phone out...sending your card flying....straight down a sidewalk grate. : /
3. I have a shopping problem.
4. I went to see Prince and it was one of the most fabulous concerts I've ever seen. That pint sized fellow is really talented. I just want to pick him up and put him in my pocket, or hang him from my rear view mirror. Wait...I don't have a car up here.
5. It's not that difficult to lose weight if you control your portions. I've been dieting for my Hawaii trip since NOLA....now a dish of pasta that normally is devoured in a sitting takes 3 sittings....one 20 ounce coke takes 5 sittings to drink...nuts are my snack...soups and salads are my friend. It's fun trying on clothes when you're down a few pounds. Hopefully I'm down a few chins so my pics are cute.
6. Scientists say today is the saddest day of the year due to the weather, holiday bills, etc. I think the lady behind me at the movies was celebrating that when she told the old man she was stepping over, "i didn't know this was a coat rack" when speaking of the seat next to him with coats and bags. RUDE. I've run into alot of rude people this year. Thankfully I've run in to just as many nice people that even it out.
7. Another random fact...Congresswoman Giffords husband...the astronaut...has been a long running joke with a group of friends of mine. At least since NYE 2009/2010. One of the friends husband looks just like him. This random guy came up to us at dinner a year ago NYE and joked with him about being an astronaut. At the time we were so confused, and went home only too lookup the guy and find out they are twins. Just weird and random.